her a more precious and deare estimation And now for exchange both his reason iudgement and affections as the Actuaries or setters downe of his wils Cronicle presented vnto him all the perfections and vertues of the truely louing Hellen. Now he saw in her beautie which onely beautifying it selfe beautified all things that to it selfe was adioyned An eye that speaking with many tongues of delight spake onely with the tongue of true affection A brow wherein dwelling all the Maiesties of diuine greatnesse yet onely ruling with one which was the most humblest wisdome In briefe he now sawe that euer before had he not beene will-blind might haue better seene a Ladie full of annoynted royaltie royaltie exceeded in beautie beautie in vertue vertue in wisdom and wisdome in the excellent prouidence of her generall carriage in-so-much that as his wound healed his heart festred and as his life strengthned so the loue of that life weakned euen now feare and shame seaz'd tyrannously vppon him feare least his deserts shoulde call in account the punishment of his life and shame that he had no Apologie to defend him from the disdaine he feared Feare and Shame Deserts and Disdaine like a quadruple euill or a torment in foure parts rackt thus his mind almost to the height of desperatnes which no sooner perceiued by her whose want of pittie had framed al her thoughts in the pitifulst mould of mercie but instant reliefe vpon such worthy honorable coÌ„ditions as might sute with the seuerest respect of vertue gaue him that life of coÌ„tentment which euen angels theÌ„selues celebrat as the best thing beloÌ„ging to our creation Excellent worthy Sir for my countrey brought-vp tongue to ascribe to it self words matchable with the height of those incoÌ„parable ioies which in either of these two great ones was vniuersally bestowed through the blessed coÌ„iunction of their diuine match were arrogance and weaknesse because in their humours and passions they as farre go beyond the leuels of our capacities as in their estates honours and heroycall promotions onely let it suffice me to say Amphyalus at last with a worthie loue enioyed the nobly louing Hellen the triumph at whose coronation and wedding gained such a Superlatiue coÌ„mendations in the praises of al tongs that I know there is no worthy ear vtterly void of the knowledge the rather since al Grece is stil euer wil be in labor with the deliuerance of those wonders Immediatly after this triumphaÌ„t mariage Basilius died Amphyalus with his Q. came into this country of Laconia whose crown he chalenged possessed by his vncles testament but whether the nature of the country which euer haue bin ominous to the Princes therof or the star-crost destiny of her poor Lady to whoÌ„ eueÌ„ destenie was deholden for the patient indurance of her affliction were the nefarius bloodie conspirators of her vntimely and abortiue euill I know not but soothly then this there is nothing more credible that they had not continued togither many yeares ere the cinders of old discoÌ„tentment which whether stirred vp by his flatterers or inkindled by his spies those Emissaries canker worms of a peaceful continuance brake into a prodigious eruption or maine fire of displeasure in his before best-seeming to be coÌ„tented mind the particularities whereof cannot capitulate against because they be mysteries concealed from our knowledges only some two years ago when the blessednes of his presence made vs forget the miseries would follow his absence least fearing what most to be feared came poasting vpon vs vnknowne to any but those of his most priuatest couÌ„sailes he departed from this land disguised in an armor of vnknowne mettall which the skilfull Arabian his late Physition by a most vnreuealed Art had beene many yeares in making and for a remembrance giuen it to Amphyalus as a Iewell of more woorth then all the worlds treasure And vnder whose couert hee might compasse those conquests which should out-reach the height of possibilitie And doubtlesse if the Erraticall tongue of Fame haue not taken too great a taste of misreporting he hath since his departure effected wonders beyond the wonder of expectation But he had not been absent many Moneths ere the rupture and impostume of our euils broke like a windie Meteor through the bowels of our fortunes and ouer all the land after many night-still mutterings it was sounded with day-heard exclamations that Hellen was turned retrograde in her vertues become dissoyal to her husband broke her faith with her Loue dishonored marriage foyled coÌ„munitie slandered beauty was the efficient cause of the liuing death wherein Amâ—hyalus liued eternally exiled This generall defamatorie and as as I hope libellous report had so many thousand Proselytes or children of Error which with winged tongues gaue it a free way and a nimble passage that all-be it Bastard-like knewe no father but that Hydra or monster Multitude tongues accusing tongues Fame fame eares eares but no knowledge no true vnderstanding yet the loue of our King and such a King of such a diuine integritie meeting with our feare which for his absence discouered the least perill that any way could threaten our estate with hazard made Beliefe become a slaue to report and prouidence to wade no further then the limits of a restrained fancie whereupon the sorrowfull Queene whose omnipotent sorrow for her Lords losse might either witnesse her innocence or haue excused the addition of other woes since not any was more insupportable then that she carried being attached by Rumor was indited by Report condemned by Heresay and adiudged by We wil haue it so Feare lodging in the eyes of Wisedome and Affection in Iudgement It was bootlesse to excuse where millions did accuse and in vaine to wish the truth when had he come cloathed in contrarie colours he would neuer haue beene beleeued in this manner the carefull comfortlesse and despised Ladie continued till within these fewe dayes when Opinion by what meanes wee know not growne to a stronger but heauen knowes how much better resolution called the dying Queene to a publike account of her Countryes ouerthrowe to which shee not able to giue other answere then teares sighes out-cries and protestations was forth-with adiudged by a generall Edict of all the now greatest rulers in this land to be brought to this place and here to bee put into a mastlesse Caruile which conueyed by a conuoy of other shippes into the midst of the Euxine Sea there to restore her to the mercie of the waters and the predestinate ende of her vnhappie starres reuolutions This is the day of her exilement this the execution place of her iudgement her in this creeke lies the Caruile which must carry her to her desirelesse long desired intombment For this rise we so earely to bemoane her misaduentures and to exclaime against the Sea if it would claime interest in the blood of so superexcellent a beautie And thus you know what wee know which al-be
exile but his owne resolution him-selfe that is the God of his Fortune and his Resolution a decree like Fate neuer to he controlled Is it likely that he who most preiudicately sawe his owne ill and eschewed it will seeke to reuiue that euill and anew to returne vnto it It cannot be imagined or if it could the vowes he hath throwne throughout the world are impregnable Bulwarkes to withstande his returning hauing sworne by his princely hand neuer againe to beholde Laconia If he then be valiant that spirit will detaine him if he be wise his wisdome will make his vowes lawfull and if he be iust there can no iniustice shine in his actions And to the first let his conquests speake to the next his gouernment and to the last both the world you that are his people Thus is our amends frustrate and Redresse slaine vtterly dead for euer Is it then in your opinions tollerable to loose him to lacke remedie neither to him nor vs yeeld any satisfaction the gods forbid then our satisfaction must be the abolishing of that euill by which our first euill was ingendred which is the life of Hellen euen Hellen the too-early late-crowned Queene of our Country she that hath ouerthrown the goodly temple of her vertue by an inuertuous communicating of those beauties which to him onely should haue bin for euer most dearly preserued she that in her loue hath beene false to Amphyalus dishonorable to herself and an vtter ruine to vs you this country If then you will haue your King restored restore him by her death for in her ending must cōsist the best of his liuing and in this action doth the world infinitely gaze vppon you to see whether any vaine title of beauty or perfections can rebelliously with-draw your minds frō the execution of iustice restore vnto your selues your auncient honours by banishing out of the land your dishonours which is onely she by whom all our infamies are maintained and that this may bee performed by such a direct mean of wel intending that no seuere iudgemēt may attach vs of crueltie thus haue the Senat Lords of Laconia decreed that Hellen shall bee conuaid into a Caruill mastlesse sailelesse vnmand vnuittaild of all munition vnfurnished which being toaed forty leagues into the maine Ocean there be left to the mercy of the gods the seas and her own furtune if she be blameles her preseruation will be doublesse if faulty her end will be swift and without pittie how euer in vs will be nothing but the discharge of a most loyall dutie wherefore as many as loue Amphyalus wish for Amphyalus or hope for the benefite of his blessed sight throw vp their hats as a signe of consent to the execution of this noble iustice The whole assembly whose minds were variously caried vp and and downe with a desire and feare or a fearfull desire to wish nothing that might put them in feare of ensuing good fortune And euen those betwixt whose lippes yet stucke the worde of safetie to the neuer-ill deseruing Queene Hellen were so inchaunted with the plaine Rhetoricke of this honest-seeming Oration that as if all their seuerall bodies had had but one mind that mind one head that head but one tongue to vtter their cogitations cast vp their caps and cried the iudgement was excellent and not to be reuersed all be euen at the beginning of the speech scarce any two agreed one in opinion some consenting more for feare then cōscience some dissenting as much vpon will as loyaltie some to bee reputed strickt performers of Iustice some to bee thought charitable in pittying the innocent some to seeme to vnderstand deeper misteries then were hid in plaine dealing and some to picke a thankes-giuing of such as might pursue like hard fortune All in such mutinie of censures that it was impossible either to discerne Pitie Mercy or Iustice vntill the colours of this speech as alwayes the eyes of common multitude are bleared with showfull reportinges had brought them to concurre and agree in one Opinion and consent of her destruction the fearefull fearing the scourge of disobedience the wilfull willing to haue their willes performed the seuere as delighting in crueltie the charitable for a counterfaite loue to their Country the wise to be renowned for their deepnesse and the flatterers to draw to them a good opinion of well meaning which no sooner was perceiued by the most politike Queene Euronusa whose heart enkindled her braine with a fierie wisedome to see the desperate estate where-unto the ayre of wordes drewe her dearest beloued but breaking through the multitude and opposing face to face with the Nobilitie of Laconia lifting vp a well tuned voyce guarded with so reuerent a countenance of glorious Maiestie as did not onely intice but astonish the beholders drawing their attentions to a silent dumbnes she thus made answere to the former Oration You Princes Lords and Commons of Laconia let neither my presence how greatly so euer at this time inexpected nor my wordes though farre vnsutable to this voluntarie consent you haue giuen for the killing of a worthe innocent breede in you so much wonder as your inconsideracie neuer till this time knowne or attached stirreth in me an admiration beyond the compasse of common admiring the rather when I behold your grauities directed and led by the blinde eye of no reason why whither are your Noble iudgements fled till nowe the Schooles of other Nations where are your faiths where are your loues and where are your wisedomes Are all slaine with insubstantiall wordes with broken arguments and vngrounded supposes O that it were as lawfull for me to chide you as it is most necessarie for your selues in your selues to condemne your selues as blame-worthy you haue this day by your consents hurt onely Amphyalus dishonoured onely Amphyalus and adiudged to death not Hellen but in Hellen the liuing soule of Amphyalus in-so-much that if the backe-looking eye of your vnderstanding doe not recall that vnaduised euill of your too-suddaine verdite it will be too manifestly true as this Gentleman hath ouer-wel deliuered with an ill intention that your losse will bee vnspeakable your redresse vnrecouerable and no satisfaction though the sacrifices of your owne wiues and children will in the eye of the world be esteemed auailable for it is most certaine that in loosing her you loose that Prince that vertue that power that strength that wisdome that honour that Lion that Lambe and that goodnesse he hath spoke of nay that King that hade that ornament that maintenance and colombe of your safeties and more then this and more then hee or I can or haue spoken the diuine father of your kingdome sith the Sacramentall misterie of two moste intirely louing hearts co-vnited and inseparably ioyned together hath made them one flesh one spirit and one bodie so that they are not two but one creature not he Amphyalus but Hellen nor she Hellen but him you seeke to
immediatlye built himselfe a moste curious house euen in the midst thereof where wanting nothing that might breede delight hee found the excesse thereof did breede sometimes a loathing of pleasure neare vnto his owne house and round about the bordering skirts of this Tempe hee built manye prettye and conuenient cottages in which hee placed certaine Shepheardes whose well tempered myndes finding the ambition of better aduaunced people smallye auayle to the attainement of true felicitye are the onelye schooles to teach their forrayne Neighbours that their industrye and prouidence neyther giueth hope of disturbance nor example of generall or priuate quarrell into this place he would seriously retire himselfe in the voide time of his progresse as much to renewe his remembrance with his past knowledges as to better his instant knowledge with newe matter worthye of moste excellent remembrance so exceeding wittye were the Shepheardes by him there placed and so much excellencye did his presence administer to them which were but simplye witted neare vnto his owne house hee buylt a fayre and sumptuous Temple Circular and in forme of the auncient Iewes Sinagogue the outside of marble containing fiftie Arches euerye Arch a dore each dore seauen windowes each window seauen Pyllasters of Iet and porpherye each pillaster seauen images of the Saints Sages and worthies of past ages This Temple hee dedicated to the greate Goddesse Diana and indowing it with a Metropolitan authoritie subiected not onely vnto those lawes which lawes are ingrauen in certaine Pillars of Copper and Marble adioyning to the Temple and other places the Residents home borne and straungers in that prouince but euen himselfe his crowne and succession In this place and in this rurall companye hee tooke a more then most contented delight they seeking by Eglogues pastoralles shepheardly contentions and other sports of witte and courage as running leaping wrastlinge throwing the Darte the Stone and the Massye axel-tree to ingrafte in his setled Iudgement a setled continuance of those harmles commendations This continuing the happy daies of this more happy King death comming to challenge his subiect nature taking from the eye of the world what the worlds eye moste dearely esteemed I meane this renowned Musidorus hee left behinde him as the onely heyre of his Kingdome and perfections the alone incomperable Mellidora natures wonder the Muses subiect and the Booke of Beautye the day of delight the life of loue and the Iewell of eternitye But she to whome the strangenes of griefe made the euill shape thereof by many degrees much more ouglye tooke such an incurable surfait through her impatience that esteeming no commaundemēt the Fates hauing taken away her onely commaunder shee gaue herselfe clerely from the commaundement both of her owne and other passions and by no perswasion would eyther take care for the common wealth to her by her Fathers death so deepely ingaged not comforte in the Crowne without which the great man imagines there can bee no true felicitie for which errour when the Sages of her Kingdome had with an humble chyding shewed her the faults of her wil the office of her calling in the one painting the effects of her weaknesse in the other the seale which must aduaunce her to eternall happinesse she with a sad resolution made them this answere I know my Lords as sound men doe the effects of Physicke but cannot digest taste of the potions I know mine euill but my passion ouer-rules me therefore I beseech you be suffering as my selfe will be patient giue me the name take vpon you the nature of mine office rule you my Kingdome let me only rule my thoughts deale you with reasonable men whilest I deale with vnreasonable passions for I protest I will intermeddle with no subiect but the subiect of my sorrowes To what end faire Prince shall I wade further into the Laborinth of her woes suffice it me thus to say the vertuous Melidora referring the gouernment of her kingdome to a well chosen Senate and betaking her selfe with a conuenient retinue of Ladies and attendants into this delicate Tempe hath euer since her fathers death liued Nymph-like exercising hunting throwing the Dart running and such Goddesse-like pleasures wherin she doth so farre exceede all possible imaginations that if Cephalus him-selfe were yet liuing hee would become a suter for her knowledge Into this Tempe is prohibited by an especiall Edict vppon paine of death the approach or arriuall of any Prince Noble-man or other of Citie qualitie the innocencie of the place desiring no commercement but with innocent creatures except only at that time when the yong Princes of Delphes came to offer to Apollo their nine yeares Sacrifice Into this place not long sithence there is come a yong Shepheard whose name is Thirsis borne as he saith in Pelagonia and recommended thither by especiall Letters from diuers of the ancient Shepheards of Arcadia who hauing Wit the contriuer Money the meanes which onely in this age doth aduance fortunes falling into acquaintance with a silly block-headed swaine called Corridon one who made folly his best wisdome and extreame ignorance the depth of his best knowledge hath purchased from him both his flocke and the priuiledges belonging to his flockes keeping This Coridon becomming now a seruant vnto Thyrsis who to attaine the pleasures of the soyle would not haue disdained to haue called him maister All-be I may iustly say without the feare of reprehension this Thirsis hath shewed himselfe so excellently endewed with all the admirable partes of perfection that he may worthily bee tearmed the miracle of this age he liues in his youth being in the May time of his flourish exceeded with a most exceeding beautie which beautie rauishing all eyes was bettered by vertue that did astonish hearts his iudgements tempered with much knowledge his knowledge coupled to a demure silence what shall I say so excellent were his good parts that hee wanne loue in his companions and admire in strangers euerie one imitating his actions for their prayses and alleaging his words as their best authorities But as we see the Curtaine of the night takes from our eyes the glory of the day yet is the dayes returne no lesse beautifull so a little Melancholie drawne on by a mightie loue distempering his soule brought him to the vse of much solitarinesse which solitarinesse like a slie enemie seeking to steale the minde from the bodie cloathing himselfe in the roabes of vertue and diuine contemplation so imprisoned Thirsis vnder the arrest of his passions that in the ende hee began to forsake all companie sports hee contemned pastoralles he neglected his profites wayned his flock wasted and himselfe consumed which being by all his neighbours with much pittie noted was by many of his best wishers infinitely lamented especially by a famous Forrester thereby named Siluagio whose better profession brought him to a better feeling of the mindes infirmityes and whose best loue being by a strong bonde of not to bee cancelled faith tyed
right The vulgar maxime as vntrue That he should be a God of might Who breedes the cares makes all soules rue That takes all reason from desire And peece-meale teares the troubled heart Being a moste consuming fire That wastes our inward heauenly part But worse accurst are they by much That on mens beauties fixe their eye And thinke no heauenly comfort such As that which in faire lookes doth lye Alas they doe too much forget That loue and men are of one minde Busie to lay that cruell net Which thralles the simple foolish blinde Returning them most losse at all That loues the best and is most thrall After they had sung this song euery one dipping her golden Flagon in the Fountaine after some little intercourse of speech wherein one gaue prayses to the Goddesse Minerua another commended the vertues of the water and others the ordinances of those Ceremonies In the selfe-same comely order as they came they nowe began to returne But Diatassan who during all the time of their abode had with a curious eye behelde the hindmost Nymph of the traine began to reade within the faire storie of her beauties many remembrances of those ancient thoughts which had long agoe in the Maydentime of his first loue infinitely surprised him Manye tymes his eyes tolde him they sawe nothing but that sight which they had most dearely loued His thoughts tolde him they were inriched with no new cogitations and his heart affirmed that but that Image there was none in it perfectly engrauen to be plaine shee so much resembled a worthy Nymph whom in his first youth he had loued most sincerely till iniurious Death had made a diuorce betwixt their affections that euen now his reuolting eyes began coward-like to yeeld to the assault of her beautie and not content to yeeld alone did so perswade his heart that hee couetous of new honour subiected all that was in him to her obedience Melidora was now in his minde but like that picture which Zuxis desired to see vnder the painted sheete which was mearly nothing as hauing no place or being all that he was was but onely a scrole of this new affection And now beholding Apheleia both with slowe pace and some sleight excuse loiter behind the rest of her felow nimphs he discouered him-selfe and with a gentle pace ouertaking her after his downe-cast lookes and some trembling wordes had like a preface tolde her his talke must be all of loue taking vp her hande and giuing it a louely kisse he demaunded of her if that hande were not the hand which did prodigally cast into his fruitfull breast the faire seed of blooming fancie whose ripe haruest shal returne her milions of gaines or tell me faire Nymph said he are not these glorious eies of yours the war-like Cytadels where all conquering loue sits as in his Empire cloathed with the rich spoyles of many kingly ouerthrowes and for a tryumph hangs out his most beautious colours O God they are therefore let neuer any Shepheard feare Ioues thunder-bolts or in their Carols aduance the vnconquered sword of the God of warre but let them all bee amazed with thy beautie and with that amazement let them record the victories thou hast obtained of the worlde of loue and of me thy seruant Wel I remember that in the April of my yeares I haue been somtimes inticed amongst my fellow Shepheards to taste the delights of youths inuentions and in those delights haue delighted to approue the mindes of many Maidens yet neuer till now haue fixt my constant mind of any till I saw thee I saw not any that coulde content me for whose sake I haue this day desperately aduentured my life by comming disguised into Dianas temple wherefore deare Nymph let the former words which I whispered in thy daintie eares the mutuall agreement of our hither comming and the due attendance I haue performed in my seruice as the messengers of pity plead for my merit and euē as with patience I suffer the bitter anguish of my thoughts so let loue and thy selfe bee curteous to my sad destiny To this she āswered Faire Shepheard according to mine agreemēt here I make good my promise yet not in such sorte that by it thou shalt suppose I stande intangled in those foolish snares which you Thessalians call loue but for it pleased thee without eyther Desire in me or Desert in my perfections to make so franke and absolute a gift of thy hart of thy soule and of thy selfe to rest euer at my disposing so that it should be vtterly vnlawfull for any but me to giue to retaine to keep to change or to dispose any thing within the compasse of thine affection and that al thy thoughts and actions should maiden-like giue a modest and sincere attendance vpon my will which sith I see thou dost effectually performe by this newe seconds of thy former loue be thou pleased with mine acknowledgment that I haue heard thy loue O but said he shall the tender of these my seruices receyue at thy hands no recompence t' is recompence inough said she that I giue credit to thy words acceptāce to thy seruice Why then sayd he let this bondage of my loue bee like those calme blastes which kindle the fire of delight whose flame breaking forth into the world may make vs admyred of all constant beholders As she was about to replie vnto this speech she might perceiue the rest of the Nymphes looking backe and staying for her companie which occasioning her with a shamefast blushing to breake off her conference she told him their many wordes might moue many suspitions which to auoid it was fit that silence should part them yet said she Faire Shepheard take this little remembrance and weare it for my sake and with that she gaue him a very faire Iewell wherein was set a most rich Diamond cut in the fashion of a Spheare or Globe and about it was writ this word Mauens moueor and so she departed But assoone as his eyes had lost her which was their best obiect they instantly conuerted their lookings to her costlye fauor on which when hee had with many curious surueys a good space meditated had to many crosse and cōtrary senses wrested and expounded the cunning deuise at length constantly beholding the frame of the faire Gloabe and marking with what course the reflections and sparkles like little spheares wound about the foil which like the earth the worlds cēter stood in the midst of the Mund he could not forbeare to say Deare Maid be thou the Sky let me be the earth on whom gentle loue may make the morning lightes of grace to arise and giue faire glory to my darknes and although this sullen night make thee withdraw frō mine eyes the beames of thy countenance O yet let thy fauor continually runne about me and how soeuer I mooue let thy loue neuer be remooued from mee many other passionate speeches to like effect he vttered
faithfull louers Hero and Leander adiudged present death to the aproach of any neighbour-bordering straunger and not forgetting the contract betwixt him and Thamastus that they should neuer be knowne where euer they were disioyned answered the Shepheards that how euer they might mistake his vtterance or his vtterance beguile the intent of his owne meaning it was so that hee was called Adunatus Prince of Iberia who from the beginning of his first knowledge had held in singular admiration the memorie of Thamastus Prince of Rhodes and Pyrophilus Prince of Macedon so that if hee had spoke of them it was but like a dreaming man whose braine from the superfluitie of his thoughts apprehends diuers remote and farre distant imaginations but for his own part at that instant hee said he was both carelesse and worthlesse and worthie to bee so vnworthily carelesse sith his fortune had lost him that rich blessing which in any but the selfe same thing could by no Fortune be againe restored and therewithall desired to knowe of them vpon what coast he was ship-wracked to the intent he might make the spediest search was possible to recouer the great losse hee had sustained to which the Shepheards replied that the Country in which he now was was called Laconia a Prouince in Peloponessus adioyning to the Frontiers of Arcadia which hauing beene long time gouerned all be with many insurrections and rebellious commotions by the renowned Basilius was after his discease by the power of his testament and as a man fit to curbe so vnruly a generation giuen to the noble and famous Amphyalus his sisters sonne a man so excellently seasoned with the salt of all vertuous vnderstanding that excepting the hope of Thamastus and Pyrophylus he stood in the eie of the world vnmatch-able and beyond comparison Pirophylus hearing them name Amphyalus whom he had euer respectfully reuerenced for the rariety of his perfections demaunded where he kept his Court and how long hee had hung his easefull armour by the walles to meditate more safely vpon the actions of other Nations They answered that his Court was abandoned desolate and forsaken of all in whō griefe by the greatnes of his birth-right challeng'de not a fee-simple inheritance and for the place of his residence it had bene vnknowne to his subiects by the space of these three yeares at what time he departed thence with as great a burthen of insupportable discontentment as Atlas or Olimpus with their ioyntlesse shoulders could stand vnder the reason wherof being though many times suspitiously coniectured neuer sufficiently vnderstood or daringly entred into by any deuining or all-knowing iudgement was they said now at last but heauen knowes how long they wil last which calles such excellencie to the last account of life-lasting both knowne censured and to many iniudiciall eares malitiously deliuered to the disgrace of the worlds best beautie the destruction of a most famous queene euer till then wondred for a wonderfull vnblemisht reputation euen Hellen Queene of Corinth that harmles faire and faire harmles hurt creature a Lady of a mightie humblenes and an infinite mightines vertuously alluring because she was vertuous and that vertue married to an euer-adored beautie Of a maiestie fit for such greatnes and a gracefulnes answerable to a pure wisedome in truth such she was as such they should bee that haue so great perfections as such a celestiall Hellen This name of Hellen thunder-strooke Pirophylus and as if his passion had had a metamorphosing deity stone-like he stood without sence or motion till reason the ensigne of the soules holynes called backe his spirites to their vsuall attendance and hee earnestly besought the Shepheards aswel for the bettering of his knowledge to whose taste he euer coueted to present the nourishing milke of discourse as for a burning ardor he had to make his fortune the releif-master to a forlorne and destressed Ladies afflictiōs to vnfold vnto him euen from accident to accidēt al that had befalne to that most beautiful Queen of Corinth of whō thogh in the coolnes of his intreaties he gaue no shew either of familiarity or acquaintāce as indeed there was not hauing neuer in their liues seen one the other yet almost frō there childhoods they had married one to another a vertuous opinion of honorable estimation being by alyance of blood nearely conioyed togither but especially and aboue all for the neare nearnesse both of affinitie and loue twixt her and Melidora the only Goddesse to whose feet he laid al the sacrifices of his swords honor or dutie Carino who euer more and more gathered out of the rarenesse of his cariage and sweet disposure of his gestures a height or exhaltation of honour beyond the comprehensiue conceit of his vnderstanding both to be found dutifull to his cammandements and to beget a further continuance of so wished a presence after the Prince by the Sunnes aid which then shined hotly against the rockes had both dried his apparel and refresh'd his halfe drowned spirits thus set the key of his bermonious tongue in tune to tell the vtmost of his knowledges Although most excellēt Prince said he frō the clowdy darknesse of our little knowing remembrances can arise no expectfull matter of memorable cōsequence the qualitie of our obscured estates depriuing vs the mean wherby Princes affairs should be vnfolded vnto so vnworthy eares as well because the weaknesse of our iudgements cannot looke into the causes of their fortunes as the insufficency of our counsels that can preuent no effect of fortune how aduerse soeuer proceeding frō those causes yet inasmuch as the worlds rumor is many times retained for an Oracle and the liberal tongue of Fame wil in the most respectlesse eares couer the worlds publique counsels I wil declare vnto your excellent wisdom what the inuenomed instrument of Enuyes tongue to all this whole nation most bytterly hath declared At such time as the noble Amphyalus who being loues true prisoner kept imprisoned the truest loue and the truest beauty that euer had power to commaund loue I meane the incomparable Princesses Pamela Phyloclea with the Macedonian Pyrocles at that time the Amazonian Zelmane had got the absolute vnderstanding of his mothers flint-hearted crueltie against those immortall Paragons of the worlde to whom he had euen slaued the subiection of his diuine soule sawe by the Caracters of their misfortunes the desperate euil wherunto the lothsomnes of his life growne vgly with the deformed disdain which had mangled his thoughts in peeces would headlong conuey the wretcednes of his hopes when he had with a selfe-killing hand made that sworde wherewith he had ouerthrowne so many Kings conquerours and invincible Gyants giue a deadly assault vnto the bosome of his hearts Cabanet seeking by vntimely death to ruinate that glorious worke of Nature wherein the excellencie of the first workmaster had showed the best power of his artes working This beautifull Queene of Corinth of whose dolours my braine
brother to the Queene at that time and in her absence commanding as her Vicegerent with the absolute authoritie of her Scepter desirous to giue her that intertainment which might be most sutable to those lamētable delights whervnto was cōtracted al the thoghts of her vnderstanding gathered togither the old remembrances of his own former disquieted happinesse when the Varnish of Artesias beautie blearing his eyes made him imagin his hart was wounded with an army of Launces caused these nourishing showes of displeasure pleasingly to bee presented vnto her first in her passage ouer the riuer Tegea which runs some two leagues from the Citie as soone as she was entred into her Barge and lanched from the shore with the artificiall noyse of sundrie vessels prepared for the purpose there arose to her imagination a strong and fierce storme with such dreadfull clappes of thunder and lightning that to an vnwel-apprehending sense Art might seeme not to borrow but to lend much to the diuinitie of Natures perfection After these foregoers of amazement followed a tempestuous shewer of raine which as if Iuno had beene at a newe intreatie with Aeolus and offered not Diope but Hellen her-selfe for his Paramour was so violently carried with the seeming powers of many windes that the Barge-men who had the conduct of the Queene all be they were agents in these deuised extremities yet seeing the effect of the worke go so farre beyond the effects of their knowledges grew forgetfully astonished and beganne to lay downe their Oares and crie to bee deliuered from that feare which them-selues had created to shew the power of fearfulnes Neuer till nowe did the solitarie Queene cast vp her eies or in the least chaunge of countenance giue notice she had noted their proceedings but with the constantnesse of her sorrow taught them that the picture of true wo was by no Idaea to be taken yet whether stirred by their to no purpose exclamations or imagining their stay a signe of her arriuall on the other side and that they cried out but onely to companion her bemoanings she arising looked forth but sawe all the ayre so smoothered vp in an vnnaturall perfumed myst wherein all delicate odours had with such an attonement symbolizd them-selues togither to make a perfite vse of absolute sweetnesse that it bred in her a delightful wonder with a respectiue carelesnesse so that she cast her sight about her with a more stedfast inquirie to behold the euent of the stratagem when the vapour a litle clearing yet not so much that any brightnesse of the day might from the inamaled fore-head of the heauens bee perceiued shee sawe or seemed to see directly vpon the shoare before her the modell of an ancient Castell the curious frame of whose building by reason of the fogge could not be well discouered onely as it was most likely either from some hic erected window or from the top of some well raysed Tower shee might behold a burning Lampe that with his oft in and out appearing sometimes violently flaming and immediately dampt and depriued for a long space of his shining showed the implacable warre of two contrarie conioined Elements and the madnesse of that storme tyrannizing ouer so little a spot of inflamation But as shee fixed her sight thereupon suddenly a wrastling in the waters close by her Barges side inuited her eyes to a nearer obiect and sheee sawe swimming vpon the waues in most amiable gracefulnes and with such an art-full dexteritie as gaue an ornament to the siluer liquid a most beautifull and faire young man close at whose heeles followed the Sea-god Neptune with his Trident in one hand and in the other small remnants of innumerable treasures which hee carryed as figures of that inestimable abundance which is concealed in the bottomlesse wombe of the Oceans darknesse and with them as it were wooed the louely youth whose minde borne vpon the wings of contrarie affections conueyed him with an inrespectiue motion from the presence of the God often times in shrikes crying O Hero Hero I haue tardy armes and slowe forces vnworthy attendants for so sweete a beautie at which the God with a mourning pitiousnes diued downe into the deepe and was no more descerned At this the care-wasted Queen apprehended the deuice and presently called to memorie that first storie of loue which euer in writing was bequeathed to memorie of the infortunate Hero and Leander but with such greedinesse that all-be she knew it was a deuise begotten to delight her passion yet forgot that either it was deuised or that her passion should delight in such sorrowfulnesse wherfore as if it had beene the substance of that shadow it presented she gaue it such a memorable entertainment as in despite of reason she brake forth into these weepings O excellent Hero said she that hadst triumph in thy loue vertue in thy faith admire in thy cōstancy in thy death a most blessed blessed martyrdom thou wert vnhappie in thy too much happines happie in the worst ende of thy sowre fortune thou didst infinitely loue and wert much more infinitely affected so that if thou didst euer sigh it was because thou couldest not loue beyond infinitenes how cōtrarie am I to the state of thy proceedings whose loue is bondage whose faith respectlesse constanciesse auaile death by a remotenesse too obstinately helples thy Leander loued that he might be disdained mine disdained because he desired to bee hated thine swam a Hellespont to inioy thee mine an Ocean to be remoued frō me thine made a perfit work ere an imperfit ending mine ouerthrew all labor because in the end should be no perfection O Amphyalus Amphyalus if euer those entombed eyes had power to heaue vp the coffins which incloud their brightnes make cleare those sweet circles and looke with pitie if not with loue vpon pittious Leander see how he plowes the waters to reape a forraine desired haruest whilest thou hast a greater ryches falling vpon thy bosome see how he mournes for the slownesse of his blisse whilest I crie out at the swiftnesse of my miserie O Fortune how doest thou auerse the countenance of thy fauour and in the Atrocitie of my mishaps buildest the glorie of thy Kingdome when wilt thou bring backe thine aspectiue mildnesse and let mee see againe those Halcion dayes of calmenesse which in my first age I enioyed O vnbegotten intreatie thou art as farre from effect as I from reason and both shall neuer meete with our wishes And hauing thus said she fell to a new maner of old lamenting when the onely eye imagined storme imitating a tragicke disposition to make the last act the extremest broke into an instant violence his companion darknes which euer runnes before him hauing put on the worst habite of his worst countenance so that as if the clouds had beene rent in peeces with thunder the ayre burnt to cinders with lightning and the earth thirsted to haue bin drowned in an other Ducallidon all
all other affections and passions of the minde like a most excellent picture that is bordered about with Antike Boscage or Crotesko works of slight estimation This loue is not the most fruitlessest and base of all Passions as being begot by Desire and Sloath as working vppon weake hearts and frenzies as onely accompanying mutinous passions and discomfortable ielousies and in the ende aspyreth to a minutes Delight which is vsherd with much paine and followed by an eternall future repentance No no my Thirsis true loue and true louers doe mingle and confound themselues so in each other with a generall mixture that they out-weare and loose the port or gate of their first entrance Reason being taken away and a more excellent and more fatall power made Mistresse of that neuer to be vntied vnion these passions which they feigne to be his consorts are sicknesses of the minde which enuying loues exquisitenesse seeke with their poysons to confound his beauties but in the ende like cloudes betwixt the Sunne and our eiesights doe but darken loue that when loue breakes out it may be more resplendant As Siluagio was thus going on and discoursing praysing loue with disprayses Thirsis whose minde was busyed about much higher thoughts woulde suffer his eares to retayne nothing saue onelye the sounde of his speeches till in the ende lifting vppe their heades they might espie the onely Paragon of this worldes knowledge the excellent Melidora somewhat a farre off comming in the selfe same path in which them-selues walked in so much that except they retyred they must perforce meete her eye to eye and visage to visage Shee was Nymph-like cloathed in sundrie coloured silkes which being placed one vppon another were of an equall distance one shorter then another the in-most being longest as brauing of his most inwarde and familiar acquaintance yet all of them ioyning their beautyes together made round about her an arteficiall Rayne-bowe her hayre beeing wound vp in a lace of golde was intermingled with manye Flowers all which beauties as if they had beene too glorious for heauen or to rich for earth were shadowed and all ouer-cast with a large vaile of white Cypresse In this sorte shee was returning from the Temple of Diana that day beeing the great Saboath dedicated to the Goddesse whereby the auncient ordinances and edictes of that place all the Nimphes are to make their personall appearance and to offer solemne sacrifice and other priuate ceremonyes to the Queene of Chastitye beeing all vaylde from the iudyciall censure of the eye-sight least the misprision of a blush or the attaindure of a pale looke shoulde giue occasion to a wanton thought to misdeeme innocence In this Temple vppon this day if there bee found therein or after knowledge bring to light that there might haue beene found therein anye man or creature of the Male kinde it is present death without appeale or iustification In this sorte like the glorious Sunne in his noone-tyde progresse came she tracing along the vallyes her pretty foote scarce pressing downe the flower that it troade vppon But Thirsis eyes which long before had taken a full draught of her beautie being now lightning strooke with the beames of her presence wanting power to retire his soule being retired from al power to cōmand his intendments amazedly stood stil with fixte eyes swolne heart sad thoughts stiffe ioyntes and all the terrors that could accompanye Loue in his desperate estate till Siluagio whose vnrefined spirit did more wonder then retaine the remembrance of what he wondered at awakning Thirsis intranced soule with earnest perswasions desired him once more to incounter the Goddesse of his fortunes alledging that stale hope which is euer most hoplesse that she was a woman and there was no impossibilities But Thirsis who hauing once seene Disdaine carried euer after his remembrance in his bosome like an affrighted child that hides his head when the nurse talkes of a Bugge-beare would faine haue gone aside from his sorrow telling Siluagio it was but labour lost sith both her greatnesse vertue and chast thoughts were in this conflict his mortall enemies But Siluagio taking vpon him the power of Reason to ouerthrow Passiō with a friēdly vpbraiding of Thirsis timerousnesse by no meanes would be withstoode but would force perforce enforce him to meete the Princesse saying who dares not aduenture can neuer attaine neither he which will not hazard vpon peril shall haue the honour of perils ouerthrow therefore aduance thy falne thoughts my Thirsis and pleade their humble seruiceablenesse whilest I with-drawe my selfe into this groaue and pray for thy succeding fortunes At this Siluagio withdrawing himselfe apart yet not so farre but that his eares might haue part of their conference the noble Princesse keeping her direct course and being come euen almost to the place where the loue-thralld Shepheard stoode the poore Swaine most humbly falling vpon his knees gaue her this salutation For euer may the grasse be greene most sacred Nimph which thou treadest vpon with thy more daintie feet and may an eternall Spring flourish in thy walks as thine immortall Beautie flourisheth in the hearts and eyes of all thy beholders To this salute the Princesse in a prettie silent blush giuing him a sleight thanks offered to passe by him as carried away with farre greater deseignes then the note of his fauours But the forlorne Shepheard who before fearing to offend nowe hauing giuen offence imagining Iniurie and it to haue both but one merite staying the Nymph by her sacred garments binding his knees still Apprentices to the base earth thus seconded his former speech after many teares and sighes interruptions Thou onely Superlatiue of all thy sexe euen for thy vertues sake flie not from thy seruants presence but if it be possible that the desperate anguish of my loue may raise any appearance of pittie in the all-sauing Firmament of thy sweete chaste and sober countenacne euen for the honour of thine owne deare name vnto which all the hearts of Kinges are tributarie sende forth some sparke to lighten my darke soule O shunne me not I say alas t' is for the harmelesse Lambe to shunne the deuouring Woolfe you are too fearefull Ladie O you are farre too timerous I am your seruant your vassaile and the worke of your owne eyes making alas I come not to offer violēce but to receiue outrage Deare Goddesse emptie thy Quiuer spend thy Shafts vppon my soule O sticke them vp to the feathers in my heart for well I remember thou diddest long since giue mee that incurable wound which corsiue like eating my heart hath confounded my soule and Reason leauing nothing but thy pittie to call me from eternall bondage O thou immortall mirror where beautie findes out her best beauties thou that art the kingly seat of triumphant loue daine that thy faire eyes which make the morning blush which parch heauen scorch earth fire the woods breakes the frost flowers the earth and turnes the darke night to
with such a feeling earnestnesse that many times hee was readie to faint vnder the wearie burthen of his newe loue but the day hauing giuen vp all his aucthoritie to the nightes commaundement and Hope a little easing the thraldome of his senses seeing new occasions must giue new meanes to satisfie his longings pleased with those sleight contentments for that time he departed homeward towards his Cottage where taking no rest but such as attendes the vnrest of troubled Louers being onelye accompained with hopes with longings with dispayres with Ielousies with vngrounded desires and passionate lamentations he wasted the weary time of that too long imagined night But as soone as the Sun began to strew Roses and Gillyflowers vpon the toppe of the Easterne Mountaines al the Forresters and Shepheards in a moste seemely manner assembled at the lodge where the fayre Melidora lay Thirsis onely excepted whose cares denyde him the comfort of al recreation And there the Forresters taking their siluer-bound Bugles which hung in rich bautriks ouerthwart their greene liueryes they winded a shrill rechate vnto the Princesse as signall of the dayes ready preparation but she whose vntroubled minde was euer prepared to giue entertainment to those worthy sports issued fourth of her lodge with all the Ladies and Nimphes of Tempe in her traine so royally adornd that euē the Goddesse of hunting grew paale for anger to see how much her selfe was excelled After she had giuen a chereful salutation to al her beholders with a quicke surueying eye beholding the companye and onely missing the Shepheard Diatassan blushing for feare shee should bee seene to blush she commaunded them that if all thinges were in a readynes they should proceed to the pastimes with that the Forresters going before with their Iauelines and darts and the Shepheards with their hookes guarding each-side of her persō they passed on towards the Woodes where soone after the Hewee was set the toyles pytcht and the Houndes vncoopled imediately there was roused a fayre and goodly Stagge whose tel-tale feete that were onely betrayers of his life were now made the meanes and instruments of his best safety he was no sooner rousd and notice thereof giuen by the sweet redoubling mouthes of the houndes but imediately the Shepheards with their shouts the Forresters with their hornes and the many tong'd Ecchoes in euery corner made such a delightfull musicke through the hollownes of the elder grown woodes that like the Phirgian consort which stirred vp such valient spirit in Alexander it eleuated vp to heauen the mindes of the hearers the beast fled the hounds pursued the Nimphes Forresters Shepheards with seuerall encoragements followed so swiftly that he which from the top of some hye Turret might but haue beheld the chasing rechasing would well haue concluded in that sporte the full glory of all other pastimes But during this sporte in which the Nimphes Shepheards straue by the swiftnes of their nimble feete who should keepe nearest to the desired game it hapned that Melidora who in al things so far excelling as aboue al creatures she was most excellent did so far outstrip all her attendants whatsoeuer that not any was able to keep within the view of her swiftnes onelye one faire Nimph whose name was Ethera sprung of the race of Atalanta being onely a second to the Princesse in running with much labour more desire kept still the sight of her presence but as it is euer seene that the violence of pleasure transports our mindes and actions beyond the moderation of delight the desire wee haue to inioy taking from vs the abilitie to make vs inioy so in this absolutely worthy Princesse her too much earnestnes to pursue her sportes being arested by wearynes made her now begin to distast sporte and not shee alone was wearie but euen the poore hunted beast first by many counter-courses and oft tappishing and lastly by taking soile in a great lake not farre of shewed how neare he was come to the last point of his vtter ruine yet the water not speaking so plaine language as the earth was a meanes whereby the hounds came to an vtter default which she perceiuing therewithall calling into her remēbrāce how by her following she was fled from all companie hauing not any neare her either within view or hearing saue only the nymph Ethera and beholding the place to be both vast disconsolate although she would willingly haue returned into better safetie yet was her wearinesse so great rhat shee was inforst to sit downe vnder the shadow of a faire Mirtle to repose herselfe for a little season and during the time that shee was there sitting she intreated the nymph Ethera either to sing vnto her some pretty pastorals of Shepheards loues which well shee knew she could performe or discourse vnto her some pleasant history which beguiling Fancie might shorten the time make their abode lesse tedious Ethera as willing to obey as she was worthy to cōmand tolde her she had a discourse which would she vouchsafe to couer within the heauēly tabernacles of her eares she should find if not delight yet infinite wonder But said she if any thing in it should stirre offence I had rather ten thousand times it should perish in my bosome But Melidora as insuspitious as she was innocent desired her to proceed in her discourse assuring her nothing should be taken in euill part which was either fit for her bashfull nature to deliuer or for her chast care to entertaine This free charter giuen to the faire Ethera she began in this maner to speake vnto her Of all the externall glories Madam wherewith we cloath the outward perfection of all excellent thinges there is none of so souereigne aucthoritie or controllesse superintendencie as that which we call beautie because there is nothing wherewith the taste of the eye is at any time delighted to which wee can giue a greater Epithiton then to say it is most beautifull And so Madam of the minde in like fashion whose excellent knowledges diuine meditatiōs are but onely the inward soules beauties adding to the perfite creature but this last of praise that there is a beautiful minde in a beautiful body yet this beautie if it stirre not in the most Iudicial beholders the height of admiration is said to be no beauty for they be vulgar thinges with which we cōmunicate they be heauenly or supernatural which we admyre neither doth beautie by the height of admiration gaine the top of her aduancement there is a certaine inflamed Desire which must crowne and royallize this Admyre with an incomprehensible loue or otherwise there is neither Beautie neither any Admiration So that for vs women if the greatest benefite wee can begge of Nature bee Beautie if Beauties be Admire if Admires be loue and loue be the worthie end to which we onely were created why doe we so rebelliously spurne at our happinesse and like to ambitious vsurpers kicke the
THE ENGLISH ARCADIA Alluding his beginning from Sir Philip Sydneys ending By Iaruis Markham LONDON Printed by Edward Allde and are to bee solde by Henrie Rocket at his shop vnder Saint Mildreds Church in the Poultrie 1607. To the Reader THe innumerable tortures wherewith seuere censures will torment and whip me their pewes their pyshes their wrye lookes Apish iestures and vntunable pronuntiations haue not so much retained me any time this halfe-score yeares from the publication of this morall Historie as the imputations of arrogancie immitation affectation and euen absurd ignorance which I euer feared Enuie would vniustly lay vpon me but hauing by custome and the weaknesse of detraction loosed my selfe from such shadowie fetters and with a more airie spirit freed my soule from such insubstantiall feares I haue aduentured to cast into the world this Orphan which how-euer it was once begot by noble parents and bosomed in the most celestiall eares that euer was worthie to retaine noble mysteries is now like a vagabond inforst to begge and liue vpon miserable charitie yet for vertues sake whom I euer desire to satisfie with my best powers before I be araignd at the barre of bitternesse I am willing to make this defence for the crimes which crueltie may suggest against me First for the Title thogh it be only excellēt in the most excellēt creature that first taught vs the sound of excellent writing yet hath it likewise beene vsed by others in sundrie pamphlets without either pride or ostentation men taking libertie to lay their hystories in Countries by them most affected next for mine allusion and imitation which beareth a colour of much greater vain-glorie mine excuse must onely bee the worthinesse of former presidents as Virgill from Homer Ariosto from Baiardo famous Spencer from renowned Chaucer and I with as good priuiledge from the onely to be admired Sir Philip Sydney whose like though neuer age hath or shall present to memorie yet shall it be renowne to the meanest that indeuour to liue by the crummes of his Table who were our age but blest with his liuing breath he would himselfe confesse the honie hee drew both from Heliodorus and Diana For other faults I must answere with Maister France if there were a bond to compell men to read there should then be an authoritie likewise to bind vs that write to delight But since both haue free will my counsell is to reade no longer then till your appetite be either cloyed or filled and so by preseruation of your stomackes make them apt to taste others better labours to which and to your owne content I commit you I. M. THE FIRST PART OF THE FIRST BOOKE of the Morall English Arcadia alluding his beginning from Sir Philip Sidneyes ending AT such time as the flowers appearing vpon the earth had summoned the ayrie quiristers to entertaine the first Embassadors of the Spring and that Nature deliuered frō the barraine wombe of Winter had shewed her selfe lyuelie as the morning faire as the nightes Gouernesse pure as the Sunne and as almighty as an armye of inuincible fortune The vnhappy and forlorne Shepheard Credulo being come to the foot of the mountaine Tagetus from whose large distributed skirts ranne an euen and wel leuiled plaine through which the siluer-flowing Erimanthus had made many curious and enterchangeable windinges till she deliuered the abundance of her tribute into the bosome of the Oceās vnruly treasurie and being arryued at the vtmost of the earths prospecte he encountred with his companion both in fortunes and desires the forsaken Carino whose eyes long before that time drown'd in their owne teares were now ouer earlie awaked to bathe them-selues in the tearye sea of others more deere afflictions And being mette in that alone lonelinesse which extreamest of all miseries had chosen out as a plat-forme whereon to build that day a stage for an immortal Tragedie they sate downe casting their eies vpon the waues whose vast solitarines presented to their mindes the liuely Idaeas of their vnaccompanied lamentations began bitterly to complaine that hauing ouer-laden hearts broke deuided with complaints which by incessant bemoanings they sought howerly to disburden foūd neither ease nor respet but rather a more augmentation of their continuall child-bearing mischiefes where-upon Credulo commenting in the sadnesse of his coūtenance more large volumes of griefe then his weake tongue could deliuer thus spake Ah Carino said he hither are we come to behold not the last act though as bleedingly pitious as the latest can be of Infortunes worst Tragedie presented to the stony eyes of creatures insensible because barbarous and acted by the greatest Beautie that euer before this day arose in the skie of anie womans countenance Alas that miserie should be so Imperious as to dare to take possessiō in the Pallace of Vertue or vertue so fearfull as for any disaster in-fortune to forgoe the habitation of Beautie Will the Almightie Iustice in his Diuine prouidence create excellēt frames to ignoble vses or Nature spend the golden treasure of her workmāship in a receptacle for greatest imperfections It is impossible it is impossible The Arts-masters of this lowe rounds nations striue in their works exquisite to portrait their owne vertues the best of which endeuours remaine after them liuing remembrances of dead worthines And shall the master of them and their knowledges make his goodliest pyramed a monument for vnblushing shamefulnes it is too preposterous to imagine and irreligious to beleeue only to thee and mee whose care-consumed imaginations direct all their leuells against the marke of mis-fortunes as hauing our hopes giuen ouer into the handes of Disdaine our vowes inrespected our loues fruitles our torments pittiles our deaths Tomblesse to vs I say these accidents of inhumane aduersitie are but awaking thunders or Night-Rauen cryes to our laboring remēbrances drawing in them and before them the models of those mishappes where-with our owne soules are attainted How oft haue thou and I my Carino from the top of yon Mountaine sent our eyes with the imbassage of our heartes conueying in blood-drawing sighes speedy messengers of dispaire the occurrents of our dying hopes How oft vpon this Plaine haue wee in darke Eglogues discoursed the pure intent of our honest seruices How oft vpon these Sandes haue wee wrtten her name with our Sheep-hookes which the iealous Sea in loue with hath greedily snacht into his bosome And how oft from yon aspiring Rocke haue wee wisht so she would beare witnes to our wish to fal head-long into the Sea as a seale to the great deed of our induring affection and yet haue found neither hope in our desires comfort in our loues nor end in our dispaires Haue we at any time desisted from the violēce of our first passion Hath there euer been seen coolenesse in the burning Feuer of our desires Haue our mindes slept at all in the shade of a reputed obliuion Or hath the Historie of her praises at any time
Now when shee was com'd to the port of the Citie and was readie to enter in she was there met with all the Damzels and virgins thereof who attyred Nymph-like in loose silkes which the breath of eue ie ayre wantonly carried and moued about them with baskets of Roses and the most choyse smelling flowers which that clime affoorded vpon their armes strewing all the Streetes through which the Queene should passe the out-side of the houses thereof being that day apparelled eyther in Tissue cloath of Gold Veluet or rich Arras as if the richnesse of such cloathing should either hide from her the wofulnesse which for hir woes was concealed within them or that making a Sabboth for her home-come euery one triumphed in his wedding garment And as the Virgins passed thus along some with Timbrils some with Kyttes and some other newe inuented Instruments to which they accorded the heauie accents of their most sorrowfull voyces they sang this mournfull and Elegiacke passion O Tedious howers that ouer-take swift time And in the end bringst backe our wisht for cares By which as by a circle we may climbe Vnto the endlesse height of our dispaires Adde to our grieues great ages of Lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content Thou elder brother to the first of all Whom men consume but neuer can make lesse Thou smiling ayme crier at Princes fall Father of death husband of heauinesse Adde to our greeues great ages of lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content For since there is no hope in our restore But like thy minuts so our moanes must rise And put to most this multiplying more Woe on woes fall as teare on teares from eyes Adde to our grieues great ages of lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content And when the world shall blame thy cruell minde That heapes affliction where Afflictions â—well Say long-liu'd Sorrow men doe seldome finde And least we may a flowrie pleasure smell Adde to our grieues great ages of lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content Say Passion Humor Fashion and Dispight Beguile the eye of Sorrow with false teares To which that men and Angels may doe right By scorning them that shadowes onely beares Adde to our greeues immortall liu'd lament Lorne in our selues and loathed of content This infinite consort consisting of all the innumerable parts of true sorowe like a Riuer-swallowing Behemoth dranke vp the vniuersall teares of the worlde so that the spectators of this egregious lamentation adiudged this Cittie nothing else but a vaste sadde and disconsolate Trophonius whose entrance vrged euen the eye of delight to a relenting tearfulnesse so that euen to such if such in such a place could bee as had no feeling of the cause of this felt woe yet the touch thereof in the effects of others participated a sympathized wayling to their rockie senselesnesse and the more when they more earnestly behelde in whom and from whom the greatest part or rather the whole which to others lent part yet like the Sunne had no part lesse of that in which she triumphed was as from a goodly Fountaine deriued But in the ende when shee was brought in this mourner-like royaltie to her pallace which was a most goodly Castell verie defensiuely fortifyed and curiously built of rich Marble in the verie heart of the Cittie After many thankes interrupted with many teares both to Phalantus for his care of her and to the rest for the sufferance of her follie through which she gat the knowledge of their loues she with the dying Amphyalus betwixt whom and death was almost sealed the deed of perpetuitie with-drew her selfe and was no more seene in publique so the space of fortie dayes during all which time shee bequeathed the desperate case of her loues Lord into the hands of the skilful Physition A maÌ„ of such age decrepidnesse that euen his life acknowledged a loathsomnesse in her habitation and Nature whome the hande of Arte by mending regenerated with a malicious enuie languished her continuance being bettered by that which for her slaue she created He was by birth an Arabian and well trayned in the vse of letters whose neare alliance with the Sun inspiring him with a spritie humor of ambitious knowledge led him to delight in trauell and the taste of vnexperienced customes to that coÌ„ming vpon a day to the mount Ida he met with a Nymph belonging to the fount Gaballine of whoÌ„ being inquisitiue to know the maners of that place he got the knowledge of the learned Wel of the habitation of the Mules and the court of memorie yet vnsatisfied and wandring further hee came into the groue where Paris first wooed Oenon saw where they pitched their toyles where they made their Pitte-falles where in the heate they lay and mocked the Sun which could not warme them and in the coole where they bathed while the Sunne with his gentlest heate did refresh them and amongest many reliques left there for remembrances of their loue hee found that heauenly and rare Booke which Apollo when he was ouer-gone with affection and desire of her beautie gaue her as a monument to eternize her name before many multitudes of admirable women in it was the portratute of all hearbs plants Mynerals or what euer belonges to the sacred studie of Physicke together with their vertues compositions effects and vses this he tooke for this Oenon had carelesly cast away when confounded with the burden of care she was become an out-cast in the worlde and forlorne of Paris And hence came those vncurable cures which in the opinions of men made his name with such vnspeakable reuerence adored and this still he practised vpon the wounded Amphyalus with such prosperous seruiceablenes that in few dayes he brought backe vnto him life and his seruant remembrance who yet not peace with that life which with former vpbrayding he had violently put forward to destruction began afresh to gall him with newe thoughts of that auntient Disdaine wherewith the most excellent Phyloclea had disfigured and ouerthrowne the beautie of his fortune so that the inuisible wound of his soule tankled and kept open the Vlcer of his bodie his newe life being an olde death worse then the bodie and the breathles diuorcement which once perceyued by this most learned father of science he immediately applyed those Antidots to his vnderstanding which drowned all the faculties of his mind in a Lethe of forgetfulnesse and he became such an Iris in the mutable exchange of his resolutions that hee had all the colours in the which any passion could be disguised except that in which the memorie of Phyloclea alone was clothed and that from the Genuine sense of his best thoughts had such an Anathema or deuided excommunication that like a Rauens-foster line cast vp into the woods to seeke a desolate fortune hee had vtterly forgone and shaked off the memorie of her which being the most precious thing in the worlde hee had made of
vnto Thirsis and his vertues called him now foorth to seeke some cure for his friends maladie where-vpon ranging vp and downe through euerie Desart by path and vnfrequented harbour he might at last beholde the most pensiue Shepheard lying vnder the protection of an olde withered Oake whose aged armes being the witnesses of his intollerable woes seemed to be more olde through his lamentings which lamentings made euen the ayre in teares to lament for companie After Siluagio had well vndertaken the sight of the sad Shepheard his eies commaunding his feete to stay least the sodainnesse of his approach might bee stayned with an vnfriendly welcome yet with great priuacie drawing so neare that his eares might be copartners of the wordes which the louing Shepheard deliuered after some little pawse hee might heare him vnto his Pype sing this Sonnet following IN vaine my wittes you labour to excuse The vgly torments of my care-slaine minde Alledging Reasons Reason to abuse Sence made by loue a slaue by passion blinde O wit that dost to appite appeare Like Princes flatterers smooth and delicate Keeping an open passage to that eare Whereto thy Mermaids songs are dedicate Delude me now no more but let me see The naked Image of my forlorne thought Shew me the great woes in my loue which be And those much greater my dispaire hath wrought Nay shew me that which of woes greatest is My follies fault to loue and sure to misse After he had sung this song throwing himselfe vpon the ground and folding his armes one within another he began to complaine in this maner Miserable forlorne and deiected that I am howe oft hath the crie of my complaints and the sad sorrowe of my speech compelled the hard rockes the senselesse trees and the humble shrubbes to a shiuering pittie and how oft alas hast thou my Pype intyced the Valleys Medowes and running Springs with a siluer Eccho to replie vnto my sad sighing and in a murmuring fashion to beare the burden of my lamentation But sith I finde thou hast no power to breath pitty nor sweetnes which may stir coÌ„passion in that most excellent brest whose divine resolutions holds the determination of my life euen as my hart breaks break my Pipe with that breaking his Pipe into as many peeces as his heart was mangled with many tormeÌ„ts he fel into a swouÌ„d which perceiued by Siluagio to whom friendship presented the cause of pittie and pittie the effect of speedie assistance he ranne vnto the Shepheard and folding him in his â—â—â—es after life had got a little vpper hande of passion he spake thus vnto him What meanes my Thirsis these confounding agonies which rather makes thee trouble these fayre springes with the deluge of thy teares then giue comfort to the Skie by thy diuine melodie But Thirsis casting his countenance vpon Siluagio yet such a countenance as rather commanded Pittie to suffer then Wisdome to chide the errour of his passion saide vnto him Ha Siluagio Siluagio I am eueÌ„ like vnto my Pipe whose tune is answerable to the fingers touch when it strikes it for if the touch be smooth soft the hermony is pleasant if rude and rough it iarres distasteth the hearers and so of my selfe My songs are lamentations touched with the bitternesse of sorrows fingers O but yet said Siluagio let me coniure thee first by our loues which euen Sauadges haue accounted an honorable friendship next by the pleasures of our former meetings when with the eagernes of our desires we haue atteÌ„ded the Nimphs in their chasings and lastly for the Muses sakes who as true Mystresses of Memorie inrich thee with those conceites which shall out-liue all remembrances that thou wilt vouchsafe to discharge thy sorowes into my bosom wherin if my counsell cannot amend yet shall not mine endeuours end til I endeuour to end thy misfortune Hee grieues not Siluagio said Thirsis that can tell howe much hee grieueth for heauie cares sit heauye on the soule they be but light shadowes which leape from the tongues vttererance yet if it please thee to sit downe and leane against this tree I will bee content to disclose what to these woodes this banke these bushes yond streames and these Birds I haue long since disclosed onely to no Shepheard it is reuealed and yet me thinkes sith I feele my death so neere t were fitter to conceale my folly and onely graue it in some tender barke by which my bodie shall bee interred that when the Goddesse shall passe by for whose sake I consumed she may tryumphing say Loe heere lyes the victory of mine eyes and my beauties conquest But Siluagio impatient to bee delayed beganne againe to importune him with such vnresistable perswasions that thus in the end Thirsis began to deliuer his fortunes At such time Siluagio as euery Budde began to make his tender leafe appeare vppon the earth and that euery wooddy Querrister skipping from bough to bough chaunted fayre welcomes to the Springes first comming my selfe lying vnder the shadowe of a pretty bush tuning my Pype to the delicacye of their sweete notes made in my conceite so harmonious a consort betwixt Arte and Nature that the poore fooles in their contentment seemed to play and daunce about me In the midst of this sportiue merryment like a nimble Roe came the fayre Milidora tripping by her hayre in most louely quantity hanging about her shoulders which the windes being in loue withal most sweetely kissing not rudely stirring seemed in their gentile motion to quiuer like the Aspen leaues as I perceiued shee came for counsaile to a holy Fountaine hard by to tye them all vp againe in a well ordered proportion which doone she cast a vaile of siluer ouer the rich Mine of that golden treasure and bordering that vaile with a Corronet of all the flowers that euer Mother-nature could boast of for eyther smell or colour shee seemed in mine eye much brauer and more sumptuously adorned then eyther Iunoes Byrde or the statue of Venus O how me thought the Sunne did stoppe stand still admyre and gazing seemed euer desirous to gaze vppon her the stately Trees bow'd their tall heades to honour her that gaue an honour both to the heauenly and earthly mansion her beautye me thought was the spring time to our Fieldes the comforte to our Flockes and the onely foode to the soules of men liuing But whilst in the gloriousnesse of this eternall glory shee trac'd about the banke of the fountaine viewing her face in the christall water mee thought I sawe a blush like lightning breake from the skye of her countenance and she smil'd to see how the beautye of her face staynd all the other beautyes with which she was adorned whereby she appear'd to say thus within her selfe Alas I sticke not these flowers about me to adorne my beauty but to disgrace their owne glories when euery creature shall beholde how exceedingly I exceede them But see alas Siluagio whilst thus my labouring imagination
presented these delightes to my desiring soule the moste excellent Princesse tourning about her fayre quicke eye O eyes to whome all eyes are homagers spyde the bush to mooue wherein I was so safely coutched whereat as mistrusting treason to her person shee slung downe her flowers and like the light windes which scorne to presse the grasse in their motion fledde from my presence beeing the lightest Nimph on foote that euer was behelde by eye or by imagination And heere with a big-swelling sigh he stayed from further speaking till Siluagio a new reuiuing his remembrance desired him to proceede and showe what effectes sprang from the cause of this enterviewe This this quoth Thirsis I instantlye felt a boyling Spring arise in my heart which with a bubling murmure making his passage through euery Veine and Artery of my bodye like the shallowe streame which breakes his way through the pibble stones incited mee with a new desire to follow her but being with-held by Obedience I was content to perrish with Loue But said Siluagio did you neuer see her since yes yes qd Thirsis in Damson tyme when it pleased her amongst the Nymphes and Shepheards to gather the earely fruite of the Sommers rypening she commaunded me to mounte vp into the Trees and to shake the plumbes downe into her lappe O how I did enuy the sencelesse fruites happinesse to see it fall and sporte vpon that bosome where euen Gods and Angels might haue beene proude to haue reposed yet did this fauour so inrich my fortune and my seruiceablenesse drawe on the fauour of further seruice that when it pleased this Princesse or rather Goddesse at anye time for her delight to goe angle in the lesser brookes onelye I was commaunded to prouide the baytes I onely had the charge of her hooke of her line and her angle how oft I kist the Cane because her hand in touching had kist it how oft I imbraste the lyne that had beene wantonlye intangled about her how oft in my deliuerye I stole the touch of her prettye fingers Iudge Loue Iudge Louers iudge all that are beloued O God yet me thinkes I see with what delight the silly fish would glaunce at Melidoras beauty through the glassie streame whilst deceiu'd with her bayte she had strooke them all with her hooke onely the last nibled so long about the line that when the Princesse thought to pull her pray to the shoare the murdering hooke it selfe was taken quite away at which sight my passion quickning my blood and my blood reuiuing the spirrit of my wordes I could not forbeare to say behold thou all conquering Empresse of mens hearts the glorious blaze which this angling beautye layes to catch mens soules shall euen in this manner bee gnawne and taken away by the Yron teeth of consuming tyme and where shall then be the future power of killing yet louely Maide tryumph ouer me whome you haue already taken euen mee that like this simple frye delight in my perishing and if you doe as your fayre eyes are witnesses bemone the fish which hath swallowed downe your hooke whose lingring torment is a signe of certaine death then pittye me your slaue the merryt of whose affection shall farre exceed the compassion due to any vnreasonable creature And what saide Siluagio did the Princesse answere to this pretty gloze Sparkes of displeasure sayde Thirsis flew with such a disdaine from her eyes that I was euen Phaeton-like thunder-strooke from the Charriot of mine ambition whilst casting her louely countenance to the humble earth and knocking her siluer chinne against her Iuorye bosome with a silence that spake as much as could be vnderstood by Anger threwe downe her angle departed from my presence her departure telling mee that the ending of her sportes should bee the continuance of mine affliction Canst thou not said Siluagio by neglecting her fashion thine eye to finde some other object How shall I finde other answered hee and in her haue lost my selfe By forgetting her remembrance sayde Siluagio Shee is my remembrance answered Thirsis and will not bee forgotte whilst I retayne my memorye Then sue againe sayde Siluagio thy teares may extorte some pittye I dare not cryde Thirsis least I offend her patience Why tell mee sayde Siluagio what if shee were within this Forrest begyrt with Tygers Lyons or with Sauage Beastes I durst quoth Thirsis attempt her in such a case because it were a rescue for the pretious Iewell of her life What sayde Siluagio if thou sawst her taken by Theeues by Satyrs or by wilde Sauadges Why quoth Thirsis I durst charge an Armye to relieue her honour What Rocke so steepe that for her sake I would not climbe What Flood so deepe that for her I would not sounde What flame would I not indure What frost would I not suffer nay what Hell would I not ransacke with Hercules so that the end of my labour might but bring my loue within the looke of entertainement Beleeue mee said Siluagio shee were Flynt it selfe if shee heard thee and did not yeelde thee the fauour of her countenance but come aryse my Thirsis and cast off this sorrow being no attrybute to Vertue but rather the Tytle of malignitye beeing euer an hurtfull foolish quality full of base thoughts and cowardize Arise I say and as wee walke along I will if thou please to kill thy passion show thee the errors of thy passion or if otherwise thy taste cannot indure such bitternesse I will to flatter thy Loue speake much in Loues commendations well sayde Thirsis since thy knowledge is so well able to declaime of euerie facultie in our pssions I am content both to attende thee and lend thee mine attention so that in thy discourse thou exceed not the limits of modestie by speaking against loue to whom I am a slaue nor against beautie to whose perfections I am an eternall inthralled prysoner And with that Thirsis arising from the ground walked along with Siluagio hoping ere long to finde some occasion which might occasion him to retyre to his former solitarinesse and in their walking Siluagio began thus to discourse vnto him Of all the excellent humors wherewith the minde of man doth commerce or find it selfe busied my Thirsis there is none either more hot more sharpe or more full of prayse-worthie action then this of loue which howe euer more colder capacities shall intitle Ague-like vncertaine obseruing fittes and times without eyther modest stayednesse or constant perseuerance yet in the well setled iudgement of the vertuous it is found a generall fame of an equall composure constant and firme smooth and sweete not raising desires beyond the Moone nor pursuing Tantalus fruit which flyeth vs in following neither doth it when willes are vnited and married togither as men suppose mourne and consume as if ending in enioying but enioyeth according to the excellencie of the desire that holds it retayning a spirituall residence in a minde made pure with long vse and custome excelling
stolne it away in-so-much that hee pursuing the chase tooke the wolfe at his pray and then had no remedie but to kill him that had killed her play-fellow Melidora smiling made him answer that if she had not some constant trials of his loyaltie she should feare lest some violent mischance would eyther kill or take him from her seruice but hee whose feruent loue could induce no colde suspition to prophesie his apostacie with more then an vsuall earnestnesse besought her not to make doubt of his faithfulnes vowing by Heauen by Earth by Loue by the golden treasure of his hopes by all his comforts past by all his delights to come and lastly by her sacred self who was the great volume which contained the cronicle of his fortunes that no time no chance no change nor no admiration should take from his name the title of her eternall Admirer wishing ruine to his bodie infamie to his name and immortall death to his soule when his pure thoughts shoulde bee blotted with the staine of disloyaltie and with that kissing her hande and shedding some teares thereon desired her not to suspect him till she was inwardly resolued absolutely to kill him which she promising to performe they sate downe togither vpon a flowrie banke within the Arbour whilest Diatassan calling to remembrance her former promise humbly besought her to tell him the manner of Dianas ceremonies what was the pompe the show and the order of their sacrifice to which shee thus answered To tell thee my Shepheard at length without omission all the stately proceedings due this day to our great Goddesse neither could a Sommers day nor Winters night out-last my discoursings wherefore we will omit it till a more coÌ„uenient time for such an argumeÌ„t onely one accideÌ„t as worthie note as loue it selfe is worthy memorie which fell out this day in the Temple I will impart vnto thee and thus it was Amongst all the Nymphs and Mayds which this day made the Altars of the great Diana smoake with perfumed Sacrifice I spyde a virgin who bestirring herselfe like a busie toyling Bee exceeded many of her consorts in praying in sensing in sacrificing and in singing by her gestures I could not suspect her knowledge her garments I knew not her face because of her vaile I saw not and for her speech like the rest it witnessed vnto me that she was a stranger After her sacrifices were ascended she for her more diuinne contemplation retyred into a priuate seate my selfe closely stealing from the rest of the Maydens came and deuoutly ioyn'd me to her side where I had not long seated my selfe but I might perceiue she cast many pretty gazes vpon mee such as by the interpretation of affection are said to carrie loue in their glaunces at first I wondred but at last I encountred her looke for looke making loue an excellent linguist onely by demonstration and all-be the race was but short yet was there a large field for loue to tylt in betwixt each of our gazings my face being couered all ouer with this vaile had onely two loop-holes left for mine eyes to looke through From whence sayd this Nymph she saw such heauenly glimpses issue as matcht the Sunne which straitned betwixt two clouds darts into the worlde faire louely beames of induring brightnesse I tolde her if in me there were any of those glories they onely were borrowed from her and from her beautie with that she whispering in mine eare demaunded my name but I wringing her softly by the silken hande and to make my selfe some prettie sport by this instant accident tolde her that I was a Shepheard not a Nymph and that onely for her sake I had disguised my selfe fearing not the daunger of my life because I had none but by her sufferance meaning in this Temple and at this holy time to consecrate my chaste thoughts to her seruice She againe demaunded of me my name and I answered her it was Diatassan And I pray you Ladie said Diatassan what answered shee to that name Vpon the knowledge of that name sayd Melidora wee concluded that this night when the Nymphs doe come to fetch water at Mineruaes spring shee shall come the hindmost in the traine and that I wayting for her in a mazie Thicke adioyning shall as soone as I perceiue the Nymphes to returne home discouer my selfe to her who fayning odde tryfles to stay behind them woulde administer vnto me al aduauâ—tage of further coÌ„ference Much other talk we had but in the end when the rites were ended she sighing departed my smyles ready to breake into open laughter to see the poore foole so cunningly deceiued But what was her name said Diatassan shee is called said Melidora Apheleia O what sport will this be for thee me wheÌ„ in the cooling shade amongst the rest of thy fellowe Shepheards we passe away the time with toyes with Ridles and with wittie purposes I tell thee this action will bee worthy of a conceited eglogue And as they were thus discoursing a Page beloÌ„ging vnto the Princesse came into the Arbor brought her worde that al the Forresters were attending her Maiestie at the Lodge to knowe in what parte of the forrest she intended the next day to hunt that orderly preparation might be made for her sportes with that the Princesse arysing with such a gesture as did enuye the times swiftnes she tolde her shepheard she must be gone but he desiring leaue to attend her shee earnestly forbad him saying the tutret loue is the cottage hate and so shee departed onely accompained with her Page to her owne Castell As soone as the Princesse was gone Diatassan reuoluing in his minde vpon the aduenture she reported grew into an amazed extasie Desire Wonder breeding in his soule a thousand Chymeras and strange imaginations one while feare appald him least dooing iniurye to the Princesse he might kill his loue and Fauour then presently Desire inflames him to beholde her whose loue liuing vpon his name is derided by fortune Another while Doubt takes him prisoner Reason denying the minde to haue such insubstantiall apprehensions but then Wonder resolues him and bids him but looke into the worke of his owne mindes creation thus beeing carryed awhile with these variable thoughts in the end hee absolutelye concludeth with himselfe that he will goe to Mineruas Spring and in the groaue adioyning shilter himselfe to try what euent will issue of the former passage And so in the end hee did where hauing rested till the Sunnes departure made the night proclayme her gouernment hee might beholde sixe beautifull Nimphes with Golden Flagons in their handes who commning vnto Mineruas spring before they would dippe their vessels into the holy water they in a moste comely order walking about the Fountaine sang this Canzonet THose foolish women are accurst That make of Loue a God though blinde And vnder him the worst of worst Couer the follyes of the minde For vs we doe detest out
the end imagining her eye did chide his eye for his ouer curyous wōder turning his face away he thus said vnto himself O Gods whilst Disdaine Rigor drew blacke cloudes of dispayre betwixt the Princesse and mine affection how mee thinkes the Sunne hath dissolu'd them and made my Starre shine fayre vppon my misseyre alas it may bee it is done but to this ende that when I shall draw neare vnto the heauenly fire of her beautie I may there consuming ende my dayes with felicitie how euer euen as the bird that is intangled in the snare of the fouler doth at the last gaspe take delight to heare that sound which brought her to imprisonment so doe her lookes which brought this bitter anguish to my heart not onely refresh my senses in their dispairefull extremities but comforteth my soule when she is readie to take her flight from my dying bodie And whilst he was thus talking in himselfe the Princesse O that so faire should haue so foule a fault founde in them without thankes without acknowledgement or without leaue-taking departed from his presence not so much fearing the daunger shee had so lately escaped as desirous to auoid his presence whom sith shee could not affect she could not acknowledge any bonde wherein she stood indebted which when the wofull Shepheard by his turning about perceiued although he inquired of the Nymph Ethera who then was as gratefull as the Princesse was cruell whither the Goddesse of his fortunes was departed hee coulde not chuse but let the verie thought of her vnkindnesse strike him to the soule with such intollerable agonies that although his sighes his sobs his teares his broken heart and his groaning spirit were testimonies sufficient of her too much ingratitude yet euen striuing with life he made his tongue deliuer these dolours And is she gone said he is there no curtesie no speech no fauour no thankes O you immortall Gods and thou great Nature that of nothing haue made this vniuersall habitation how negligent haue you beene in the framing of her most delicate composure placing in her all the diuine graces that can outwardly imbellish and adorne the most excellentest substance that euer was created and leauing the sacred intellectuall parts of her vnderstanding soule where Pittie that is onely proper to her sexe should holde his continuall residence vtterly neglected abandoned and forsaken but alas alas it is not your omission but my miserie not her want of pittie but my pouertie in desert I am vnfortunate alas I am most miserable which sith mine ouerburdned heart can no longer vndergoe to ease it and please her thus finish my dayes And euen as he was thus speaking hee ranne his head with all the strength and power of his bodie so furiously against that tree from which Melidora was but euen a little before loosed that all be the hande of some supernall power who no doubt in that hower reserued him for farre greater happinesse did compell the blowe not to take that wished effect the wofull Shepheard desired which was vtterly to haue finished loue and life in a moment yet had it so great efficacie that it strake him backewarde stone deade to all imaginations Ethera beholding this bloodie tragidie being as full of pittie as the Shepheard was of dispaire she ran vnto him and laying his heade vppon her lappe after shee had wiped his wound and couered it with part of her silken garments with long chaffing and rubbing him shee at last brought him againe to life which was no sooner reuiued but accompanied with his seruant Memorie the Shepheard lifting vp his heauie tyes and looking vpon the busie Nymph he said Alas Ethera haue I not paine inough but that thou also wilt giue newe life to my passions thou art vnkinde alas thou art vnkinde and here plucking out his knife he offred a second assault vpon his breast which the Nimph withstanding she thus with a friendly chyding beganne to admonish him Fie Thirsis fie said shee thou shalt not thus vnnaturally robbe vs of delight and thy selfe of honour for shame let not one tempest make thee dispaire of the Sommers beautie what foolish sayler will for one storm strike sayle and trust no more to Sea-fortune why man if euerie blast should bring thy sheepe to the folde how shouldst thou profite or they prosper But thou hast indured no tempest no storme no blast it is onely calme silence which hath euer beene constred a consent or acknowledgemēt which by thy mis-interpretation brings thee to this malignitie I imagine her bashfull Nature which without blushing could not deliuer thee the desert of thy merite by her dumbe departure hath left thee to suppose shee thought as much or more then thine owne will would haue desyred and as shee was thus expostulating with the wounded Shepheard a graue Swaine well stricken in yeares whose name was Opicus hauing amongst the rest of the Forresters and Shepheards met with the Princesse and heard of her aduenture past leauing his fellowes to attende her to her Lodge hee came to the place where Thirsis lay whom for the excellent vertues hee had euer behelde in him hee loued most intyrely whome assoone as Ethera beheld she called him vnto her and shewing him the pittifulnesse of his estate and the cause why his estate was so pittifull shee besought him to ioyne with her either in counsell or comfort sith she was perswaded that if his dispaire continued his life could not be of indurance Opicus as full of wisedome as then Thirsis was of discomfort after he had shewed him the vglinesse of his sinne and the vnnaturalnesse of a selfe-combate prouing all pusylanimitie stupiditie and blockishnesse in such a monstrous conflict in as much as the minde forgoeth thereby Hope which is the golden treasure of our vnderstanding firme Trust which is the assured rocke of all mortall safetie and diuine Loue which bindeth together all our ioyes all our desires and all our prospirities Now for this other loue said Opycus which hath little or no communitie with this heauenly loue I mean this loue of beautie O Gods that euer men should bee so sottish as to seeke it through their soules perditions But I will not distast thee Thirsis by chyding thy follyes but rather confirme thee to attaine wisedome I tell thee in this eye-eye-loue there is no impossibilitie but the continuance of our affections nor no maine assurance worthie any certaine despayre but our owne furies for howe euer the tyde runne it falleth as it floweth and this deluge of thy sorrowe Time can make to bee a worker of thy best comfort I tell thee Time brings to passe mightie things of infinite importance euen those vnconquered Beauties which makes a conquest of all the worlds best hearts forcing sense to wonder and soules to Idolatrize shall in the end strike the gallant top-sayles of their glories to the great Maiestie of vncontrolled Time euen that impetious Time who captiues moe subiects with his
swift wings then Cupid with his sharpe arrowes euen hee that winnes vs vnto him when he shewes vs his backe and flyes from vs. Loe euen whilest I am in talking I feele the power of his great authoritie whereby he abates the ouerflow of swelling youth dulles the keene edge of euerye sharpe piercing eye make hoarce the sweete sound of the siluer voyce marres the inchaunting Rethorick which hath so oft beene broken betweene the faire Pearle Rubies beauty it spoiles the wealth of arte the pompe of wit so that like as we see ouerthrowne nobility loosing their roabes of honour not to disclaime the cottage garmteÌ„s in such sort than euen the Princesse Melidora her selfe in token of the true homage shee oweth to consuming Time forsake and disclaime from al those eye charming graces of which with such curiosity shee had boasted Thirsis no sooner heard him name Melydora but as if that name had bene an alaruÌ„ to awaken his too sleepy sence raysing vp himselfe and looking Opicus in the face hee said I tell thee Shepheard Melidora liues not within the reach of Fortune neyther can Time were his power redoubled make her immortall flower shedde one leafe from her braunches I tell thee shee like the top of that fayre Laurell which growing by the Altar of Apollo houldes both the frost and fire in contempt derision What Swanne shall sing that shall not sound forth her prayses What Swaine shall Pipe and not make her name his musicke nay I tell thee euen Time himselfe when he hath finisht his brauest conquest shall bring vnto her the honour of his tryumph and hauing no more to ouercome shall hang vp vnto her beauty his murthering Sythe for a monument Opicus seeing him thus violently caâ—â—yed away with vnreasonable reasoning and finding â—â—at contention did but rather agrauate then mittigate loathe that melanchollye should incurre the tytle of Furye leauing all other exhortations said onely vnto him that sith his constancie was an impediment to all perswasions there was in his conceite no better meanes then by milde intreatye to mooue some Mercye Alas alas said Thirsis intreaty is as booteles as my Loue is hopeles doost thou not knowe the famous Shepheard Mopsus he that vnderstands the language of the Birdes the Vertue of stones the nature of hearbes and what euer else can be couered vnder the habit of secret wisdome Hee O he I tell thee hath long since calculated my natiuitye hath found the opposition of my Stars to boade me nothing but misery assuring me my loue shall euer be deiected and dispised this hath hee prophecied and this must be beleeued to these wordes Opicus thus replyed I tel thee Thirsis Mopsus can commaund both wordes and fortunes but they be all as false and vaine as himself is foolish and vnlearned therefore I charge thee let not thy diligent care giue credite to his idle Oracles but opposing his maxims thou shalt make thy selfe able to discerne his falsehoods for proofe whereof note but attentiuely this tale I shall deliuer At such time as the healthful toyle of my Shepheards life and the homely grosenesse of my countrye cheare beganne to growe yrksome and vnpleasant to my fantasticall taste there sprang in me an earnest desire to beholde the Citie gouernment that tryumphant magnificence which in Princes Courts makes men Angels and Kinges Gods But Mopsus seeking to with-draw my mind from those too high knowledges thus went about to perswade me Beware beware said he vaine man to what end thou dyrectes thy iourney I tell thee thou goest vnto a place where craft springes colours flourish and deuises swarme where faces can alter their fauours tongues change their speech and Slymie bodyes sticke to the painted fortunes of raysde Potentates where guiltye men are made golden Idolls Flattery sooth'd by detraction oathes by periuries and treason by friendshippe Offices made subiect to crymes and counsails to bloud ignorance attended by Pride pride by Ryot and Ryot by ciuill and domestique Garboyles O flye from this place from whence Enuie hath expeld friendship and Ambition banisht the zeale of auntient Pyetie where slaues liue with toyle Princes with feare and euen Kings themselues with vncertaine saftie make not thy selfe a companion with greatnesse it is worse then Atlanta's Castle or Trophonius dungeoÌ„ for euen in those Places dwel those alluring Sisters whose inchaunting melody makes straÌ„gers cleaue to the Rockes there shalt thou apprehend mountaines of golde yet shalt thou but finde onely Glasse Each Turret in a Princes Pallace hath a seuerall tongue each Walle a sound and each vaulted roofe a distinct pronuntiation neyther doe they eccho like sound deuided wordes but repeate whole sentences yea many times more then was eyther spoake or imagined Beautie there like the Cockatrice perswades ensnares and then confoundeth al things are beyond capacities poyson in Golden Vessels treason in close hearts and deepe vndermynings in simple seeming vnderstandinges Therefore if thou wilt bee gouernd by my knowledge eyther locke vp thy lippes and thine eyes when thou shalt beholde greatnes or staying thy progresse liue securelye in thy countrye habitation Loe Thirsis this was his counsayle and these were the Aphorismes of his diuinitie And didst thou goe saide Thirsis and didst thou dispise so graue an admonition did I goe replyed Opicus yes I went and I shall neuer repent the worthynesse of so notable a iourney for there I found craft had no eares false faces had no loue and flatterers were but the fooles at Princes Tables I saw Ambition headlesse Ryot comfortlesse and discention houselesse I saw Treason tormented by loyaltie Policie confounded by Religion and periurye branded in the face with an yron of infamie In briefe I saw no euill but euill auoydable yet there I saw many faire SwaÌ„s whose songes me thought did equalize or out-goe eyther Ister Poe or Douen there I saw many fayre Nimphes whose vnpollisht perfections made nature admyrable There I saw manye celestiall Syrens many lights many Goddesses and many Graces euen there I heard those excellent soundes whose bewitching and heart-pleasing tunes made mee stand distraught with delight and amazement what shall I say I beheld more excellent obiectes then I could immagine yet not so manie as I desired might liue euer in my prospect I saw a people more ciuill then the Athenians a Senate more wise then the Romans and a Nobilitie more gloryous then all the auncient wotrhyes but aboue all I saw a God or man or at least a moste Godly man who with the shaking of his hand ruling the sway of manye kingdomes by his gate his gesture and his almighty Majesty seemed better then Numa stouter then Caesar greater then Alexander his sword I saw was the guard of vertue his Scepter the glory of peace his Crowne the Garland of prosperitie there was no Arte but in his knowledge no knowledge but in his coceite and no conceit but in his song onely his presence mee thought was
is no sooner finished in my conceite but a new springes vp and then Imagination tels me that shee onely to my sight standes fixte and vnmooued yet like the celestiall bodyes moues with such sortecie that wee shall sooner feele the change then beholde the motion these and a thousand such cogitations are the continuall hammers which beating vpon the Anuile of my heart disquiet my sences and take all rest from my slumbers which to reconcile or remooue I would become a slaue eyther to Time or Opinion Etherae at these wordes perceiuing the Qu. was giuen her which must let loose her language starting from the place of her aboade presented herselfe euen to the sight and presence of the two Shepheards and first vnder the cloake of carefull amine and obsequious loue couering the vnexpectance of her aproach and the danger of her suddaine intrusion shee briefely tolde Diatassan with some flattering circumstances how much shee honoured his vertue respected his quiet and desired the satisfaction of his best longings therefore saide shee fayre Shepheard although thou didst not see mee yet haue I heard thy sorrowes and long since suspected thy heauie plight which to helpe I am now content thou shalt esteeme mee rude wherefore if it please thee to accept of my counsaile I will direct thee into so fayre a path as shall without amazement or danger bring thee to the full end of thy wishes Diatassan who had hee had his counsailes in his bosome might haue prooued more daintie in discharging them now seeing they were reuealed like an infant curtezan who trembling at the first touch of sinne growes by vse impudent in sinne being altogether insuspitious kissing Ethera's fayre hand tolde her that if eyther her knowledge could discharge his doubtfulnesse or her counsaile dyrect him through the blinde pathes of his intrycate Loue that shee should not onelye make him an euer admyrer of her vertues but a man proud to bee intytuled her Seruant Ethera as proud of this insinuation as counning to preserue her aduantage thus saide to Diatassan There is quoth she fayre Shepheard not farre from this place and hard adioyning to the foote of the Mountaine Ossa an obscure and auntient groaue of Pynes of Cedars and of wilde Oliues where no Shepheard haunts no Beast feedes nor anye Satyre dare prophane Within this darke groaue there is a little Grot which making his passage through the hollownesse of the earth is all ouer-growne with bryre with thorne with twitch with many intāgling bushes It is a place vnsearcht vnknowne and vndesired as being rough thicke and like hell darke and voyde of all comfort Within this place there liues a holye Hermitte who beeing pretious and deare vnto our greate God Pan hauing sundrie wayes to issue from this his desolate Mansion sometimes to drinke the comfortable ayre sometimes to giue releife to distressed Shepheards and sometymes for other more holye recreations I haue oft obserued his howers wherefore to morrowe about the euening at what time it shall bee my happe to meete with him I will with such sweete perswasion intyce his olde yeares that he shall not deny me to stay for some little space to conferre with thee touching the doubtfulnesse of thine affection the gift of prophecie the knowledge of things past and to come and what else vnreuealed arte hath bene to mankinde hid and obscured the bountifull heauens to him onely haue disclosed therefore looke thou discharge thy counsailes into his eares with care performe all his instructions to shalt thou rayse honour vnto him ease vnto thy selfe and to me thy well wisher a iust satisfaction Diatassan after a little amazement at her discourse calling vp his better wittes and finding a stronge hope in this secret knowledge being as it were tickled with a desire to beholde the issue for loue hath no meane or patience in his desires demaunded if hee should not presently goe with her But she answered No for first she would conferre with the Hermit herselfe and then she aduis'd him at the clossing of the euening to come vnto the foote of the mountaine Ossa and if there hee found an Hermit according to such description as she gaue him then to proceede and trye the euent of his vnderstanding Diatassan as much satisfied in himselfe by this hope as Ethera was hopefull to satisfie others by this stratagem after many obseruant kisses offered vpon the fayre Altar of her hand and double so many religious vowes and protestations of seuerall seruices for this her no lesse kynde then honourable friendship taking his leaue of the polilicke Nimphe did together with the honest Shepheard Cosino for that time depart home towards their owne Cabinets But Ethera not hauing as yet brought foorth that prodegie which shee intended should amaze all the worlde and Tempe but being as it were in a painfull labour of much greater subtilties as soone as the Shepheard was gone from her presence shee went and collected together sundrie simples or strange workinges as Mandragge Rue Poppy womansmilke Roseleaues pouder of Nutmegges and such like Of these shee composed a strong liquid potion which being infused into a Christall Vyoll and so carryed it about with her in her bosome This doone she presently went to the lodge where the Princesse Melidora lay but missing her there and being so imboldned with rage of her owne desires that shee feard not to bee accounted barbarous shee went straight vnto that priuate Arbor to which none might haue accesse saue onely the princesse and as Boldnesse was readye to make her set her foote within the same Wonder held her backe for shee might heare a more then Angells voice which consorting the sound of a moste delicate toucht Lute deliuered vnto her eares this Sonnet Care keepe that absent presence in my brest Whose present absence doth torment my heart And I will make thee Mistris of my rest Not my soules good but my soules better part That absent image houldes my present life My life in it it in my life doth liue Part them and all my sences are at strife They doe my pleasures make and comforts giue Then gentle Care let no Carracter graue Other then his remembrance in my minde And eyes if you send to my hearts close cane Other then him be you for euer blind He hath my heart within his Image wrought I haue his Image grauen in my thought The verie rarenesse of the sound deliuered with such incomparable sweetnesse easily assured her whom the singer was and that it could not be any other then the Princesse Melidora wherefore retiring her selfe from her first intended entrance and being of a pregnant wit apt to compasse choyse Numbers without meditation leaning herselfe against the backe-side of the Arbor so that the Princesse might not loose one syllable of her vtterance she sung this song Extempore as it had beene in the person of Diatasson Alas why should I hope for ease Of this my soules immortall strife T were
better to abridge my dayes Then vrge her more to saue my life O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower How crosse hath heauen beene to my fate Since first I got the vse of breath She that me loues alas I hate She that I loue desires my death O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Cruell Loue why didst thou strike me With a Dart so full of woe If both my euer doe dislike thee Nor my life thou wilt let goe O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower What bootes it thee to see me beare This raging fire in which I burne But that to men it may appeare What fortunes thou canst ouerturne O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Yet if thou ru'st on any smart Rue on my woe that wofull is But thou hast an obdurate hart And stonie minds wants Pitties blisse O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Alas why shouldst thy chast faire sight His glorie gaine by killing me And so against all law and right Win an abusiue victorie O Apheliea thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Why didst thou giue life to my flame If hope to kill were thy regard What worser chance can crowne thy name Then still to loue and lacke reward O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deathes hower And shall the showers of teares I show Gaine no remorse for all my smart Alas sterne Loue doth answere No For why he dare not touch her hart O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower It is in vaine I am asham'd That thus I seeke cure for my griefe For hearts that are inhumane fram'd Loue woe so well they hate reliefe O Apheleia thy loues power Is Diatassans dying howers The Princesse attentiuely hearing this song but not seeing the singer after her eares had drunke the sounde of her Shepheards name coupled with another as she thought much vnworthie of so hie preheminence as if all such adoration had beene most damnable blasphemies all-bee the sound did not chalenge anie thing from his voyce yet restlesse Iealousie strake such strange fire into her bosome that not able to containe her selfe she came foorth of the Arbour with a more then vsuall haste Anger making the Lillies of her face couer all the Roses But when shee sawe the deceyte and that it was but onelie the Nymph Ethera newe Gilliflowers springing about the Throne of Roses smiling vpon the Nymph she said I am glad my Ethera that thy pleasant free thoughts stirring vp thy siluer voice will giue vs the comfort of thy song beleeue mee I feard thy last affright would haue robbed both from thee and me all taste of solitarie pleasure But I pray thee fayre Nymph tell me what song was this which thou didst euen now so passionately vtter was it of thine owne or of others composing The Nymph Ethera with a downe-cast looke and an humble reuerence teaching her cheekes so artificiall a blush as might verie well deceiue Nature bowing herselfe before the Princesse and first crauing pardon for her bolde presumption in that shee had come so neare the place of her priuate retiring assuring her with many prettie protestations that she was vtterly ignorant of her there aboade in the ende shee tolde the Princesse that for the song which shee had sung it was none of her owne inuention but made by the famous Shepheard Diatassan in honour of the loue hee bare to the faire Nymph Apheleia which she of late hearing had now newly bequeathed to memorie O God! had the Nymph Ethera out of an implacable anger taken a vow vtterly to haue confounded the Princesse or had the Princesse beene the vtter confusion of all the generation from whence the Nymph was descended had the Princesse beene her riuall in affection the barre to her desires or had the Princesse said what no woman can endure to haue saide that shee had not beene faire shee coulde neither haue founde a more readie poyson nor a more sharpe reuenge then the vtterance of these wordes which shee deliuered they were Daggers in the Princesse heart they were woundes in her soule and liuing deathes of dying liues anguish what passion was there with which shee did not communicate what feare what distrust what iealousie what madnesse what amazement and what else that may take vpon it the name of absolute euill But in the ende Reason that could neuer indure that such euils as these should become maisters of his fairest habitation but like Carniuall masquers to haue onely a moments entertainment and no further summoning his best accomplices as Vertue Constancie Consideration and such like beganne to warre agaynst the former with these arguments First she called to minde the vertue of his former life his innocent thoughts his plaine dealing tongue and his vndisembling actions the seueritie of his gouernment giuing no libertie to inconstancie and his honourable imitations being euen assurances of the best goodnesse insomuch that Passion being accompanied with his onely companion easie beliefe and both they attended on by Anger their seruant casting a threatning cloude ouer the chearefull Firmament of her diuine lookes shee thus spake to the Nymph Ethera Well I perceiue than the vse of sinne brings the Euill both to a delight and easinesse in sinne nothing in them augmenting their ripenesse more then the warmth of their owne wickednesse of this hath thine immodestie giuen mee a double experience thy first vnchast perswasions being now seconded with a most shamefull slaunder lightnesse and impudencie striuing how to create murther O Ethera thou art doublie vnkinde vnkind to vertue the shadow of whose countenance hath brought thee to much honour but most vnkinde to truth whom thou seekest to kill with a false witnesse be thy folly therfore thy scourge and both my hate and refusals of thy counsels profes of that detestation wherein I holde thee hencefoorth I charge thee neither to frequent these walkes nor acknowledge my memorie but liuing an eternall exile complaine to the worlde what woes falshoode and shame haue brought vpon thee Alas poore Diatassan the vertue hath begot thee infinite enuie and thine imaginarie happinesse seekes to inrich thee with most cottaine mischiefe but thy goodnesse hath taken such well grounded roote in mine vnderstanding that nothing shall draw from thee the blisse of my good opinion liue but as happie as thou art constant and euen Angels shall finde want in thine vnbounded prospetiue And as she spake these words tears rising in her eyes as it were to make a question in the worlde which were the more purer Diamonds she offered to depart But the Nymph after the custome of disgrast Tragedians whose first act is entertained with a snakie salutation falling vpon her knees and staying her by her garments with all the humilitie that either Art