benefit of that frieÌ„dly aspect which he most desired ordered so the matter that Varrona according to her vsuall manner did frequent the leas wherein her fathers sheepe grazed who with two other damosells sat vnder the side of an hil making a garland of such homely floures as the fildes did affoord This sight so reuiued his spirits that he drew nigh with more iudgment to take a view of her singular perfection which he found to be such as in that countrie attire she stained all the countrie dames of Thessalia while thus he stood gazing with piercing lookes on her surpassing beautie Varrona cast her eie aside and espied Lysimachus as yet altogether vnknowne vnto her which sodaine sight made her to blush and to die her christall chéekes with a vermilion red which gaue her such a grace as that she séemed farre more beautifull And with that rising vp Lysimachus that could well skill to court all kind of degrees least he might then be thought to haue little manners encountred them thus Ladyes beléeue me loue is of more force then warres and the lookes of women pierce déeper then the stroke of the lance there is no Curtlax so kéene but armour of high proofe can withstand but beauties arrowes are so sharp and the darts that flie froÌ„ womens eyes are so piercing as the Corslet tempered by Vulcan for Didoes paramour holdâ— not out the violence of their strokes The gods tremble when Mars shaketh his launce but he feareth when Venus casteth a frowne Alexander neuer tooke notice of the legions of his enemies but he stood frighted at the beautie of the Amazon Then swéete saints of Thessalia meruaile not if I were driuen into a maze at the sight of such beauteous creatures whose faces are Venus weapons wherewith she checketh the pride of ouer-daring warriours I cannot Ladies court it as your gallant yongsters that tye their wits-to their fancies nor fill your eares with amorous discourses as Cupids apprentices that spend their time in such louing philosophie Nor can I faine conceited supposes of affection to prooue my selfe loue-sicke by poetrie but as a blunt shepheard new come from the folds I offer my selfe a deuout seruant to your beauties swearing to defend your honours against all men with the hazard of my bloud and in pawne thereof generally to you all but specially to one as loue hath his vnitie I desire to be entertained as a dutifull seruant to the Lady Varrona Lysimachus hauing thus boldly boorded these louely virgine the Ladies seeing with what affection he offered his seruice to Varrona began to bite the lip and she to blush who seeing her selfe toucht to the quick made this answere I know not shepheard how to answere of loue because as yet I neuer knew loue ignorant of his forces because neuer acquainted with his fortunes Vesta forbids vs virgins to name Venus as they of Ephesus hatefull Erostratus Diana déeles not in Paphos nor suffers she any of her maydens to hunt in Erecynus least méeting with Venus meacocks they skip with Calisto and so séeke after losse The lesse you are priuate the loues passions the more welcome to our presence for rather had we fill our eares with shepheards sonnets then with 〈…〉 and sweeter are the teares that grow from the losse of a fewe shéepe then a smile from a comicke tale of fancie For your seruice gentle swaine finding my selfe vnworthie I craue pardon but if it please you to be accepted as a worthie Shepheard and my fathers friend looke for such fauour as my honour and virginitie can affoord Lysimachus hearing the plausible answere of Varrona although her first infirmation séemed to answere for his purpose as preferring the lawnes of Diana and fires of Vesta before loues holy temples yet she concluded so swéetly as might stand with the modestie of her honour he therefore made thus his replie In that Madame we are but nouices in loue the simpler are our thoughts and the néerer should be the simpathie of our affections Doues match when they are yong â—ens are graffed when they are sprigs the one part not but by death nor are the other seuered but they perish Shepheards are like Uirgins the one striuing to liue vertuous the other to die patientlie both enemies to loue while they wait on those which brooke not loue I meane labour and Vesta But both must loue as hauing hearts and thoughts eyes to sée beautie and eares to iudge of vertue I Madame while I thought none greater then Pan was vowed to Pan but seeing womens wits are more powerfull then he I haue resigned ouer my fortunes at his shrine and meane to make proofe of the swéetnes of loue glad that in my first entrance I haue the patronage of your gratious fauour armed with the which Mars well may frowne but not conquer But sir quoth Varrona I graunted any fauour to Lysimachus the Shepheard not to Lysimachus the louer And so Madame quoth he I accept of it for I am a Shepheard to do you seruice and a louer despight of my selfe Varrona being a Lady of passing merrie disposition hearing him thus to reason prettilie thought to sift him in this manner I sée well Shepheard that as women have their fauours so men haue their sayings the one prodigall in gruess the other politick in deceits being as cunning to dissemble loue as we charie to discharge loue We thought to haue found you a flat Shepheard as ignorant in loues as we of fancies but how closely soeuer you couer the flame the fire will be knowne by the sinoake For your talke so fauours of loues principles as we iudge you are as cunning in faining a passion as in folding shéepe and can as soone deceiue a woman with a pen as adde a cure to a diseased lambe This will make vs to take you for a day friend and what we like in you present to disalow to morrow swearing if you bring amongst vs Venus roses we will beate you with Vestaes nettles and therefore if you will be admitted as our Shepheard we either forbid you to say no more of loue or else you shall be out of our fauours If Varrona said he thou hadst enioyned me as Iuno did to Hercules most dangerous labours I would haue discouered my loue by obedience and my affection by death with that pulling forth his Pipe began after some melodie to carroll this Madrigall What are my Sheepe without their woonted foode What my life except I gaine my loue My Sheepe consume and faint for want of blood My life is lost vnlesse I grace approue No flower that saplesse thriues No turtle without pheare The day without the Sunne doth lowre for woe Then woe mine eyes vnlesse they beawtie see My Sunne Varroâ—â—â— eyes by whom I know Wherein delight consists where pleasures be Nought more the heart reuiues Then to embrace his deare The staires from earthlie humours gaine their light Our humours by their light possesse their power Varronas eyes fed
gods haue you in enuying this my prosperitie depriued me of the view of that wherein I imagined my whole felicitie should consist vngentle Cupid hast thou déeming my Varrona fairer then thy Pshyche thwarted thus my doating humour I will wander through the earth augmenting the springs with streames of my teares filling the woods with rebounding Ecchoes of my woes tracing the plaines with my restlesse steps O that I might equall Orpheus in art as I excell him in anguish the powerful vertue of his heaueÌ„ly tunes amazed furious beasts staied flueÌ„t streames raised stones assembled trées mouing sense in senselesse things Descending to the silent â—aults of Aâ—heron he caused ghostes to groane shadowes to sigh effecting releÌ„ting thoughts in hels remorslesse iudges But were I his pheere in that profession I would do more enforcing Syllanus her father not touched with such a sympathie to leaue his suspition and grant me my loue whither do I wandere Is this to rest leaue Lysimachus nay procéed Lysimachus cease to suppose begin to sorrow Ay me wretched me hoplesse hopelesse what meanes can I now conceit what deuise may now be potted Herâ—aâ— he sâ—â—pt and opening the flood-gates of his eyes distilled a shewer of teares supplying his spéeches with déepe sighes But resoluing to procéed he was interrupted by the shepheard who hearing the words of his complaints lamented at the 〈◊〉 of his sorrowes 〈◊〉 by all meanes to 〈…〉 of his memorie the rememberance of these caushalties assuring him that time being the wachstone of loue would no doubt sort all things for his content and so quoth he you sâ—â— it is time to â—old our flockes with that they 〈◊〉 shéepe 〈…〉 home but he poore soule that had loue his 〈…〉 thoughts set on fire with the 〈…〉 began to cauâ—â—nate 〈◊〉 vpon the 〈◊〉 which Varrona had receiued from her father Remaining in this pitifull plight féeding on nothing but heauie dispaire he became so changed in his bodie and soule as though they had bene now 〈◊〉 But 〈◊〉 good hap his mourning being ouerheard by the good shepheard and finding him so transformed 〈…〉 â—â—formed Varrona thereof She hauing taken diligent notice of this his information admired greatly at the constancie of his affection and séeing her father vpon vrgent affaires was rode to the Court she déemed if not amisse herselfe to goe and visit him Who calling vpon Lysimachus with a â—hrill voice recouered him better with her words then withall the potions or hot drinkes she could deuise to giue him Lysimachus staring her in the face muttered as it séemed to himselfe but remained spéechlesse but she with great care comforted him as a woman want no good words in such a case and brought him againe to the vse 〈◊〉 his tongue wherewith he soulâ—red out these words Ah Varrona cruell dispaire hath so mangled my swéete hope that vnlesse I finde some spéedie remedie the wound will growe incurable and willing to goe forward his breath failed him Lysimachus quoth she as I am ignorant of the cause so I am sorrowfull for thy disease and I would I had as much power to heale thy extremitie as will to performe it if it shall not preiudice the glorie of my credit or blemish my honour therefore if it be in my hands to better thée assure thy selfe to 〈◊〉 the benefit the honour of my name alwaies excepted Lysimachus 〈…〉 a while thought it best to discouer himselfe and presently to receiue the conâ—â—t to life or the reply to death for his life death did depend in her answere praying the rest to depart with a sighing spirit and trembling chéere disclosed himselfe Aâ— my swéete Varrona in whose answere is seated my heauen or hell to recount to you my sorrowes or repent my loue can neither ease me of the one or further me in the other sâ—eing your selfe shall appeare a witnesse in them both Although that reason did somewhat prefer me by the benefit of séemely gouernment keeping in subiection the vntamed appetite of furious affections yet confirming it by my owne eye-sight the manifold graceâ— wherewith â—ame nature hath mightily enriched you I found my thoughts so fiercely assaulted that either I must yéeld to be your captiue or else die in the combat Yea the glistering beaâ—â—â—â— of your heauenly perfections so pierced my heart that I was forced to forsake reason to followe affections and to forgoe libertie to liue in bondage if it may be tearmed bondage to serue with loue such rare excellencie Hauing tasted so much of fancies cup and the drinke dispiersing it selfe into euery part I felt such passions in mine vnacquainted conceits that nothing but the rememberance of your swéetest sake could procure my ease fully resolued to serue loue and honour Varrona till the destinies of death should denie me Tumbling in the extremitie of these straunge passions and hearing that thy fathers suspition or rather iealousie of our late vnited simpathie doth watch like Argus ouer Io vnwilling that thou shouldest passe beyond the reach of his eye vnlesse as the thinkes thou shouldest ouerreach thy selfe my contents were turned into delayes complaints and my pleasure wrapt in this laborynth of grieuous lamentations but now noting the exâ—temitie of thy fortunes I find that Venus hath made this constant to requite my miseries and that where the greatest onset is giuen by fortune there is strongest defence made by affection Thus I doubt not but thy father in watching thée ouer-waketh himselfe and I hope profiteth as little as they which gaze on the flames of Aetna which vanish out of the sight in smoake Varrona throughlie vnderstanding his rare and ruthfull discourse with wéeping eyes and sorrowfull chéere embracing him in her armes after a sugred kisse gaue him this swéete comfort The heauens Lysimachus by their miraculous working haue taken truce with our affections whose diuine influence I thinke by some secret contemplation do séeme to conclude our loues It may be I haue béen liked of some and flattered of many but neuer deserued of any but only of thée Lysimachus whose life loue and loyaltie may iustly claime an intâ—rest in the fauourable consent and constancie of thy Varrona Lysimachus hearing this heauenlie harmonie was so rauished betweene ioy and feare for he feared least it had bin but a dreame that he was not able to vtter one word but at last sensibly perceiuing that it was no vision but the veritie of his desires staying himselfe by her hand concluded thus Ah swéete Varrona the only reuiuer of my dying spirit although neither heauen nor earth can affoord me thanks sufficient to requite thine honourable fauour yet shall the zealous truth and tried loue of Lysimachus affections encounter the glorie of Varronas beawtie And I vow by the heauens that when Lysimachus shall let his eye slip from thy beawtie or his thoughts from thy qualities or his heart from thy vertues or his whole life from euer honouring thée then shall heauen cease to haue starres the earth
cottage we gladly accept your countrie fare we wil thankfullie receiue your directions wil be néedlesse for we wander thus vp and downe to light on some cottage where I and my wife with this our seruant may dwell for we purpose to buy some Farme and a flock of shéep to become shepheards meaning to liue low content vs with a countrie life for I haue heard some say that they drink without suspition sléepe without care And if this double fauour do procéed froÌ„ you then in requitall of your courtesie first we beséech Iupiter Xenius the patron of hospitalitie and protectour of strangers to blesse our labours prosper our attempts and enrich your store with hoped plentie next we vow by that bright lamp heauens ornament that if fortune as she is neuer stable raise vs froÌ„ so low an ebbe to the wonted height of our good hap we will remunerate your kindnes with most ample recompence Alexis such was the Shepheards name séeing maiestie in their lookes grauitie seated in disguise royaltie suted in base attire gathered by these probable coniectures that they could be of no meane degrée mooued therefore with a déeper remorse he courteouslie intreated them to repaire to his â—â—mple lodging and remaine there till fortune should conuert her frownes into fauours protesting that though he could not entertaine them as the qualitie of their condition required yet he would supplie in good will the disabling defects of his low estate and for the buying of a Farme quoth he ye come in good time for my Landlord intends to sell both the Farme hill and the flocke I keepe and cheape ye may haue them for readie mony which wrought such chéerefulnes in their hearts that they yéelded him millions of thanks and accompanied him to his house Into which when they entred they found it not gorgeously embost yet gailie trimmed not courtlie yet comely though homely yet handsome and they were kindlie welcomed by Alexis wife who gréeted them with a merrie countenance being by her husband certified of their fortunes The next morne they lay long in bed as wearied with the toile of vnaccustomed trauaile but as soone as they got vp they resolued there to set vp their rest by the help of Alexis swapt a bargaine with his Landlord and so became maisters of the Farme of the flock her selfe putting on the attire of a Shepherdesse and Lysimachus of a yong swaine both estéemed famous amongst the Shepheards of Arcadia Liuing thus iointly together they began to be as Ciceronicall as they were amorous with their hands thrift coueting to satisfie their hearts thirst to be as diligent in labours as they were affectionate in loues so that the parish wherein they liued so affected them for the course of their life that they were counted the very mirrours of a Democraticall methode Liuing thus in a league of vnited vertues fortune enuying their prosperitie raised vp one Maechander to race beate down if it were possible the firme foundation of their faithfull building and biding together For this Maechander glauncing his gazing eyes on the blazing beautie of Varrona receiued so deepe an impression of her perfection in his heart that immediately he fixed his fancie vpoÌ„ her comely corps And being the chief ruler of the citie he perswaded himself that there was none in that town so stout but would stoupe at his lure nor any so faire but would faine imploy theÌ„selues to pleasure him but one the other side the renowned vertue of Varrona came to his mind which perswaded an impossibilitie to his purpose and floating thus betwéene hope and despaire he entred into these tearmes O miserable wretch that I am to whom shall I addresse my complaints Is it the heauenly power gods of loue that haue depriued me of my senses shewed their dunne working in me Or is it the hellish hags and spirits of spight that bereaued me of reason executed their crueltie on me Is it loue that leadeth me to this lust or is it hate that haleth me to this hurt mischiefe No no the Gods guide vs to goodnes the furies of hell they force vs to filthines neither doth that any way deserue the name of loue which bringeth such torment to my troubled minde that all the diuels in the world could not performe the like But see my rashnes why am I so blindly bold beastly to blaspheme against that which proceeds altogether from nature which nature hath imparted to all men and which I ought to follow without repining or resisting for so long as I follow nature as my guide I cannot doe amisse séeing nature hath taught vs to loue why should I not rather proue her precepts then rebuke that which by natures lore is allowed And touching torment of mind or other inconuenience that it bringeth is it all able to impaire the least comfort which I shall enioy in embracing my Varrona Is it not méete that he which would reape should sowe he that would gather frute should plant trees he that would reach the swéete rose should now and then be scratched with the sharpe briers I meane is it méet if I purpose to possesse so proper a peece as Varrona is that I should eschew labours or refuse any perrill in the pursute thereof And herevpon he determined to follow the furie of his fancie what pangs or danger soeuer he thereby indured hauing resolued many waies in his mind how he might aspire to his purpose at length he resolued vpon this to institute a sumptuous banket whereto he inuited the chiefe of the citie amongst whom Lysimachus his wife Varrona were not forgotten the onely authours of the feast Now for the more â—oyall receiuing of his guests he met them at the entrie into his pallace and gaue them this gréeting Faire Ladies as I am right ioyfull of your presence so am I no lesse sorrowfull for the paines you haue taken in vndertaking so great a iourny this darke and mistie euening for the which I must account my selfe so much the more beholding to you by how much greater your labour was in coÌ„ming and by how much lesse your cheere shall be able to counteruaile it now you are come And taking Varrona by the hand he said softlie vnto her I pittie the paines of these gentlewomen the lesse for that you were in their company whose piercing eyes as celestiall starres or heauenly lamps might serue for â—ights in the darke whose sweete face might perfume the aire from all noysome smells which might annoy them beholding your liuely looks perfect shape they might take such delight that the wearinesse of the way could nothing molest or grieue them Varrona hearing her selfe so greatly praised of so great a personage as he was could not keepe the roses red out of her alablaster cheekes thinking no serpentine malice to lie hid vnder these mâ—rrie sugred words she gaue him this courteous answere If sir the company had
planted it in you For God and nature do nothing vainely or after a vile manner And in that some do amisse in rebelling against her their owne scrupulous nicenesse is the cause when they will impose vpon themselues heauier burdens then they are well able to sustaine and refuse those which nature hath appointed them to beare being indéede but light What talke you sir said she so much of nature and of creatures without reason as though we ought to follow either the instinct of the one or the example of the other I haue béen alwayes taught that reason is the rule whereby our actions ought to be directed and that we ought to lay before vs the déeds of creatures indued with reason to follow and imitate For if you stick so strictly to the example of brute beasts you should vse the company of women but once or twice at the most in a yéere as most of them do with their females whereto I am sure you would be loth to be tyed Madame replied he a Gentlewoman of this citie hath alreadie answered this obiection for me Why then quoth she will you condemne their doings in some points and place them for patternes to be practised by other some Yea why not said he otherwise you might generally take exception against the example of men for that some men in some matters do amisse The good euer is to be vsed and the euill reiected Doth not euery man so soone as his daughter is arriued to ripe yéeres trauaile to bestow her in marriage whereby she may enioy the fruites of loue and participate with pleasures incident to that estate whereby they plainely shewe that the cause why they beget them with pleasure and bring them vp with paine is to haue them enter into that trade of life wherein not onely themselues may liue happily abounding in all pleasure but also by the fertill fruite of their bodie make their mortall parents immortall that when they shall be blasted with age and withered away the issue of their seede may begin gréenely to growe and flourishly to spring to the great comfort both of father and daughter For what pleasure the Grandfather taketh in the sporting pastime of his proper daughters prettie children I thinke you partly vnderstand and what delight the mother taketh in the toyes of her little sonne you soone shall perfectlie perceiue if it please you fréely to followe the friendlie counsaile which I frankly pronounce vnto you For do you thinke if virginitie were of such vertue that parents would not rather paine themselues to kéepe their daughters modest maydes then straine themselues and their substance to ioyne them in Iunoes sacred bond Yes perswade your selfe if â—our mother were so assured she would rather lock you vp câ—ose in her closet then suffer any to enioy the soueraigne sight of your beautie or once aspire to your spéech whereby you might be perswaded to some other kind of life But she experienced by yéeres knoweth what is best for your behoofe and would you should follow her example and make no conscience to loose that which she herselfe hath lest which except she had we had mist so rare a iewell as your séemely selfe is which what a detriment it had béen to my selfe I dare not say least you should count vertue vanitie and truth trifling flatterie But to our purpose you perceiue as I said your parents pleased with the accesse of Gentlemen vnto you whereby you may conceiue their minde is you should accept such seruice as they profer and partake with those pleasures which they prefer vnto you Why sir said she you altogether mistake the meaning of men in this matter for when fathers tender marriages to their daughters it is not for any minde they haue to haue them married but onely for feare least they should fall to follie other waies for knowing the fickle frailtie of youth and our propensâ—ues to grauitie and weakenesse they prouide vs marriages to preuent mischiefes and seeing of euils the least is to be chosen they count wedlock a lesse euill then the lightnes of our life and behauiour Alas good Madame said Valentine why do you so much prophane the holie state of Matrimony as to count it in the number of euils whereas the Gods themselues haue entred into that calling whereas Princes pleasantly passe their time therein whereas by it onely mankind is preserued and amisse and loue amongst men continued of the woorthinesse whereof I am not sufficient to open my lips Sir said Fuluia I speake it not of my selfe but according to the opinion of the most wise and learned Philosophers that euer liued amongst whom one Aminius so much misliked of marriage that being demanded why he would not marrie answered because there were so many inconueniences incident to that estate that the least of them is able to sley a thousand men Why Madame replied he you must consider there is nothing in this mortall life so absolutely good and perfect but that there be inconueniences as well as commodities thereby incurred by that reason you may take the Sunne out of the world for that it parcheth the Sommer gréene and banisheth away the beautie of those that therein blaze their faces But to leaue naturall and humane lawes and come to diuine precepts proceeding from Gods owne mouth doth not God say It is not good for a man to liue alone and therefore made Eue for an help and comforter Likewise in diuers places of Scripture he doth not onely commend marriage vnto vs saying Marriage and the bed vndefiled are honourable but also commaundeth vs to it saying You shall forsake father and mother and follow your wiues Why sir said she and doth not God say It is good for a man not to touch a woman And if thou be vnmarried remaine so But why alleadge you not this text It is better to marry then to burne whereby is plainely shewed that marriage is but a meane medicine for the burning in concupicence and lust But because we entred into these misteries I could refer you to an historie where it is reported that in heauen Uirgins chiefely serue God and set foorth his glorie And Mahomet the great Turke when he was in heauen said he sawe there Uirgins who if they issued from heauen would lighten the whole world with their brightnes and if they chanced to spit into the sea they would make the whole water as swéete as hony but here is no mention of married folkes Belike said he those Uirgins are like your selfe and then no maruaile though God be delighted with the sight of them which perchance is the cause he hath them in heauen to attend vpon him as first Hebe and after Ganymedes did vpon Iupiter But generally of women the histories record that by bringing foorth of children they shall be honoured and inioy a place in heauen which must be by marriage if honestly But because I am perswaded that it is only for argumeÌ„t sake that you
beléeue that loue should vnite our thoughts when fortune hath set such difference betweene our degrees But thou likest of Varronas beawtie Men in their fancie resemble the Waspe which scornes that flower froÌ„ which she had fetcht her wax playing like the inhabitaÌ„ts of the Iland Tenerifa who wheÌ„ they haue gathered the sweet spices vse the trées for fewell so men hauing glutted theÌ„selues with the faire of womens faces hold them for necessarie euils and wearied with that which they séemed so much to loue cast away fancie as children do their rattles and loathing that which so deeplie before they liked especially such as take loue in a minute and haue their eyes attractiue like iet apt to entertaine any obiect are as readie to let it slip againe Lysimachus hearing how Varrona harpt still on one string which was the doubt of mens constancie he brake off her sharp inuectiue thus I grant Varrona quoth he many men haue done amisse in proouing soone ripe and soone rotten but particular instances infer no generall coÌ„clusions and therfore I hope what others haue faulted in shall not preiudice my fauours I will not vse sophistrie to coÌ„firme my loue for that is subtilitie nor long discourses least my words might be thought more then my faith but if this will suffice that by the trust of a Shepheard I loue Varrona and woe Varrona not to crop the blossomes reiect the trée but to consummate my faithfull desires in the honourable end of marriage At this word marriage Varrona stood in a maze what to answere fearing if she were too coy to driue him away with her disdaine if she were too courteous to discouer the heate of her desires in a dilemma thus what to do at last this she said Lysimachus euer since I saw thée I fauoured thée I cannot dissemble my desires because I sée thou dost faithfully manifest thy thoughts in liking thée I haue thée so far as my honour holds fancie still in suspence but if I knew thée as vertuous as thy actions do pretend and as well qualified whereof you make demonstration the doubt should be quickly decided but for this time to giue thée answer assure thy selfe thus I will either marrie with Lysimachus or still liue a virgin with this they streined one anothers hand He hauing his answer gaue a curteous adew to them 3. but specially to Varrona so playing loth to depart he went to Procyon who all this while attended his comming vnto whom Lysimachus made a true relation of all those things which passed betwéene them aduertising him of the lenitiue remedies which she applied vnto his maladious spirit whom we will for a time permit to meditate on his singular expectations and returne vnto Syllanus Varronas father He hauing intelligence of the secret méetings which these two louers daily vsed being excéeding much displeased vpoÌ„ a day as he walked into his Garden by chance he met with Varrona accompanied with diuers Gentlewomen whom saluting very gratiously he passed by them and taking his daughter by the hand walking aside with her into an open gréene walke fell into this talke with her Why huswife quoth he are you so idle tasked that you stand vpon thornes vntill you haue a husband are you no sooner hatched with the Lapwing but you wil run away with the shel on your head soone pricks the tree that wil prooue a thorne and a girle that loues too soone wil repent too late What a husband why the maydes of Rome durst not looke at Venus temple till they were 30 nor went they vnmasked till they were maried that neither their beauties might allure other nor they glance their eyes on euery wanton Egipt is plagued with a dearth I tell thée fond girle when Nilus ouerfloweth before his time the trées that blossome in February are nipped with the frosts in May vntimely fruits had neuer good fortune yong Genile-women that are wooed and wonne ere they be wise sorrow and repent before they be old What 〈◊〉 thou in Lysimachus that thine eye mâ—st choose and thy heart must fancie Is he beautiful why fond girle what thy eye liketh at morne it hateth at night loue is like a hauen but a blaze and beautie how can I better compare it then to the gorgeous Cedar that is onely for shewe and nothing for profit to the apples of Tantalus that are precious in the eye and dust in the hand to the starre Artophilax that is most bright but fitteth not for any compasse so yong men that stand vpon their outward portrayture I tell thee are preuidiciall Demophoon was fayre but how dealt he with Phillis Aeneas was a braue man but a dissembler all but little worth if they be not wealthie And I pray thee what substance hath Lysimachus to endue thée with hast thou not heard that want breakes amitie that loue which beginneth not in gold doth end in beggerie that such as marrie but to a faire face tie themselues oft to a soule bargaine And what wilt thou doe with a husband that is not able to maintaine thée buy forsooth a dram of pleasure with a pound of sorrowe and a pinte of content with a whole tunne of preiudiciall displeasures But why doe I cast stones in the ayre or breath my words into the wind when to perswade a woman from her will is to rowle Sisyphus stone or to tie a head-strong girle from loue is to tie furies againe infetters Therefore huswife as you tender my affection I commaund you to surcease those vaine and idle matters which please me as much as the stinging of a waspe and shall profit you as little as fire to coole your thirst And with that in a rage he flung away not admiting her replie Varrona perceiuing her fathers good will thus alienated from her fearing a further inconuenience did in humilitie submit her selfe to his disposing not vsing any longer her accustomed walkes Which Lysimachus perceiuing mused greatly what should become of his loue somewhile he thought she haâ— taken some word vnkindly and had taken thâ— pet then he imagined some new loue had withdrawne her fancie or happilie she was sicke or detained by some great buâ—â—nesse of Syllanus These 〈◊〉 â—id Lysimachus cast into his head who hauing loue in his heart proued restlesse and halfe without patience that Varrona wronged him with so long absence for loue measures euery minuit and thinkes houres to be daies and dayes to be monethes till he feeds his eies with the sight of his desired obiect Thus perplexed liued poore Lysimachus while on a day siting with Procyon in a great duâ—pe he was crediblie informed by Toxc us of those sorrowfull accidents at which being sodainely surprised with griefe and string his eyes on the starrie concaue began thus in their presence to vtter passionate coÌ„plaints not limiting his lamneÌ„ts with distinct clauses for his moane admitted no methode Iniurious heauens quoth he hath your influence effected this misfortune iniust
we feede them with flatterie because we will giue them little and so of all our louing déeds they make these lewd deuises yea when we haue brought them vp with great care and cost when we haue trauailed all our time by sea and by land earely and late in paine and in perrill to heape vp treasure for them when we haue by continuall toyle shortned our owne liues to lengthen and inlarge their liuings and possessions yet if we suffer them not to royst and to ryot to spill and to spoyle to lauish and to consume yea and to follow the furie of their owne frantick fancies in all things this forsooth is our recompence they wish an end of our liues to haue our liuings Alas a lamentable case why hath not nature caused loue to ascend as well as descend why hath she indued the Storke with this propertie to féede his damme when she is old and men with such malice to wish their parents death when they are aged But I speake perchaunce of my owne proper griefe God forbid it should be a common case for my daughter why doe I call her daughter hath not onely wisht my death but wrought it She knewe she was my onely delight she knewe I could not liue she being out of my sight she knew her desperate disobedience would driue me to a desperate death And could she now so much doate on a poore shepheard to force so little of her louing father Alas a husband is to be preferred before Father and Friend but had she none to fixe her fancie on but a Swaine the sonne of I knowe not whome Alas loue hath no respâ—â—â— of persons yet was not my good will and 〈◊〉 to be craued therein alas she sawe noe possibilitie to obtaine it But now alas I would grant my good will but it is too late her feare of my furie is too great euer to be found her 〈◊〉 is too great euer to looke me in the face any more and my sorrow is too great euer to be salued And thereupon got him to bed very heauilie affected dayly bewayling the losse of his daughter Varrona with whom I do now begin The Sunne soiourning in his winter mansion had disrobed Arcadia of all her pleasures and disgarnished Vestaes mantle of delights variable choice wherewith Flora had in plentie powdred the freshnes of her earst gréene hue Night suted in a duskie robe of pitchie darkenes besieged the globe with long shadowes while Phoebus wanting wonted vigour did by darting his scarce reflected beames affoord surall comfort to the earths increase so that Arcadia earst the soueraigne seate of all content and sole place of worlds perfections séemed now a patterne of the ancient Chaos wherein all things if things were confounded Fields flowerlesse trées leauelesse ground heatelesse brookes streamelesse springs vnhaunted groues vnhalowed augmented this hue of horrour blemish of Europs paradice The mayden huntresse Arcadiaes patronesse did seldome trace the plaines guarded with her troupe of virgin knights to fixe shafts on the flying beasts whose wont was in time of heauens more milde aspect to grace the fields with her daily presence and when her brothers scorching heate tired her limbs with faintnes to bath her chast bodie in some pleasant brooke Nor did the wanton Satyres lightlie skipping on the painted meades painted I meane by natures workemanship vaunt their bodies agilitie to the fairie wood-Nymphs Pan Arcadiaes president pend vp himselfe in his winter lodging and the other rurall powers séeing their glories date ended for that yéere shrouded themselues in the place of their wonted repose In this season a season well fitting their melancholie thoughts distracted with moodie passions Varrona and Lysimachus the maps of fortunes mutabilitie left their countrie wandred in middest of winters rage surcharged with sorrow the extremitie whereof made them haplesse abiects while rough Boreas winters henchman mustering legions of stormes scourged the plaines with a trouâ—e of tempests and aimed his violent blasts at the tallest trees to loy their heights pride and combatting with his companions filled the aire with dreadfull noyse of their tumultuous encounter these infortunate louers in whose minds loue martialled millions of striuing passions thus wandring whom fancie tost in a boundlesse Ocean of perplexing thoughts ceased not their trauaile till the weathers intemperate furie calmed by heauens milder influence tooke truce with time and sealed the attonement with a sodaine change But when Phoebus renuing his yéerely taske and denying longer residence to stormie winter had pierced earths entrailes with comfortable warmth opening a frutefull passage for the issue of her wombe to cloath Pomonaes branches with natures bountie and diapre her owne mantle with Floraes sense-alluring pomp Lysimachus and Varrona entred the maine continent of Arcadia where séeing the late hue of horrour turned to an heauen of eyes happines they redoubled many sighes drawne from the depth of their wofull hearts centre for remembring that Tellus was earst dismantled the trees bereaued of their blossomes beautie earths naturall defects anatomized by time in the place where frostie Hyems had displaied her ycie trophies they lamented to thinke that these tokens of worlds mutabilitie had recouered their former flourish by the yéeres timely alteration but their desperate fortunes as they imagined had no hope of any happie spring to calme the winter of their woes Drowned in these deepe meditations they procéeded pensiue but they had not walked farre when they espied a faire broad Oake whose spatious branches enuironed the ground lying vnderneath with a shadie circle There they determined to rest a while their bodies wearied by long iourneis and somewhat disburthen their soules by displaying their sorrowes As thus they were discoursing of their fortunes they beheld as they looked back an Arcadian and by his habit seemed a Shepheard who ouer-hearing the last words of their complaints and aiming though amisse at the occasion of their sorrowes thought that being strangers he lameÌ„ted the losse of their way to which imaginatioÌ„ applying his words he began thus Friends for so I may tearme you without offence the day is almost spent and the night being dangerous for such as you are or at least seeme to be I meane strangers accept then a simple lodging in my cottage with such homely fare as Shepheards houses yeeld and when to morrowes Sunne shal display his bright though late forcelesse beames ye may prosecute your intended iourney wherein if my directions may further you ye shall find me readie to affoord them They wondering at such rare humanitie harboured in those contemptible wéeds made a loÌ„g pause as if they had enioyned their mouthes to perpetuall silence at last Lysimachus shapt him this replie Friend for so your preffered courtesie bindes vs to tearme you muse not that sobs interrupt my words or sorrowes season my discourse which onely comfort my fates haue assigned me What we were we list not now to repeate what we are you sée we grieue a lodging in your
the pietie towards your parents and the duetie of a daughter towards her father so vtterly forgotten that you will prefer the loue of an vnthrift before my displeasure and to please him care not to offend your parents who trauaile to bestowe you vpon one worthie your estate and ours No neuer thinke Valentine shall inioy you with my good will and neuer take me for your father if you graunt him your assent thereto Fuluia hearing this cruell conclusion of her father Hermodius with bashfull countenance and trembling tongue framed her answere in this fourme I beséech you good father not to thinke me so gracelesse a childe as once to imagin much lesse to do any thing which may heape your heauinesse or hasten your death the least of which two would be more bitter vnto me then death For if it please you to vnderstand I haue not granted my good will to any vnlesse yours be thereto gotten Neither haue I as you sée preferred the loue of an vnthrift before your displeasure But as I cannot let that noble Gentleman Valentine to loue me so can I not to confesse the truth but loue him mary in heart onely for my bodie as you gaue it me so shall you haue the disposing of it And as I faithfully promise you by the loue which of duetie I owe you that I will neuer haue any husband without your approbation so I humbly begge of you for the affection which by nature you beare me that you will neuer force me to any without my good liking For if for the transitorie life you haue giuen me you make me pay so déerely as to be linked with one against my will I must néedes count it a hard peniworth and well may I wish that neuer I had béene borne I beséech you Sir consider the inconueniences alwayes incident to those marriages where there is more respect of money then of the man of honours then of honestie of goods then of affection of the parties each to other What strife what iarres what debate at bed and at boord at home and abroade about this about that neuer quietnes with contentation neuer merrie countenance without countersaiting neuer louing déeds without dissimulation And whence but from this rotten roote springeth so many dishonest women so many euill liuing men Is it not the loathing of neuer liked lips that maketh women stray from their husbands to strangers And is it not either the difference of yeeres or the diuersitie of manners or disagreement of natures that maketh the husband forsake the wife and follow other women And where are any of these differences or inequallities betweene the married but where the force of friends not libertie of loue linketh them together These things by your wisedome considered I trust as you restraine me from one whom I loue so you will not constraine me to any whom I loue not in so doing doubt not but you shall find in me modestie meetâ— for a mayd vertue fit for a virgin dutie beseeming a daughter and obedience becomming a child Her father hauing mildly heard her modest talke told her he meant not to force her to any but would prouide her a husband whom he doubled not should like her better euery way then Valentine did and therefore willed her to race out of her minde the liking which she had conceiued of him and so gaue her leaue to depart And being in her Chamber she began to deuise all the meanes she could to â—oose out of her heart the loue which she bare vnto Valentine and reuoked to her memorie her fathers displeasure and her owne preferment with many other discommodities that way arising But nothing preuailed for as the bird caught in sinne the Deare in a soyle the more they striue the faster they sticke so the more diligentlie she laboured to get out of the laborinth of fancie the more doubtfully was she therein infricated and as â—ne climbing on high his féete fasting and he in danger to fall more firmely fastneth his hold then before he did so Loue seeing himselfe readie to be dislodged out of her brest tooke such sure hold and fortified himselfe so stronglie within her that no vigour was of force sufficient to fetch him from thence Which the good Gentlewoman perceiuing thought best for her case and quiet to yéeld the summons of loue to be disposed at his pleasure wherein no doubt she had reason For as the swift running streame if it be not stopped runneth smoothly and without noise but if there be any damme or loâ—ke made to stay the course thereof it rageth and wareth and swelleth aboue the banks so Loue if we obey his lore and yéeld vnto his soueraignitie dealeth with vs gentlie and like a louing Lord raigneth ouer vs but if we withstand his â—orâ—e and seeke to stay the passage of his power he rageth ouer vs like a cruell tyrant Which this Gentlewoman as I said perceiuing without any more resistance determined in her heart to loue Valentine onely and euer Now Valentine notwithstanding the angrie looke of the father the frowning face of the mother and the strange counterfait countenance of the daughter followed his suite so effectuallie vsed such apt perswasions to the maide and in short time insinuated himselfe so farre into her familiaritie that her parents lowred not so fast but she allured as much and thought she receiued no other contentation in the whole world but in his companie which her parents perceiuing and besides dreading the Kings displeasure thought as good by their consent to let them goe togither as by seueritie to kéepe thâ—m asunder whom the Gods séemed to ioyne togither and so much the rather they were induced thereto for that they sawe their daughter so affected to Valentine that the hearing of any other husband was hatefull and vnto her hurtfull And hereupon the marriage was concluded and consummated and to this bargaine only the fancie of Valentine forced him Now behold the nature and condition of fortune for she hauing saiued these men namely Valentine and the two rogues a long while with roses 〈◊〉 now to whip them with nettles and hauing presented them with the brightnes of her fauours now she crost them with many frownes They that did thinke themselues the most fortunate amongst men may now account theÌ„selues the most distressed of all men For they hauing carelesly floated in the seas oâ— voloptuousnes and retchlesly reigned in the lazie seas of lawlesse libertie where they fed on nought but loosenes and liceutiousnes whereby most prompt to wickednes were wrapt in the performance of most desperate designements For one of them named Delfridus was by the furies of hell so set on fire in libidiâ—ous lust towards his mistres Fuluia that he sought all the meanes possible to win her to his wicked will not much vnlike Maechander aboue mentioned the other called Insolainder was so instigated on with arrogancie that he daily aucupated after the destruction of him who was the cause
the remedies he could to heale himselfe but all in vaine Fuluia also feeling the poison to preuaile within her fell vpon her knees before the aulter of Diana vttering these words O Goddesse thou â—â—owest how since the death of my swéete husband this life hâ—â—h béen most loathsome and sowre vnto me and that the onely offering vp of this sacrifice hath kept me from him which now in thy presence being pâ—rformed I thinke my selfe to haue satisfied my duety and purchased thereby a pasport to passe to the haâ—iâ—ation and paradice where my husband hath his dwelling Immediately vpon this so well as she could she crawled home to her house where she was no sooner but tidings were brought her that Delfridus was dead wherewith with great ioy she cast her selfe downe vpon her bedde and called her little sonne which she had by Valentine whom blessing and bussing said Alas pretie impe who shall now defend thée from thy â—oes who shall redresse thy wrongs Thy father is gone thy mother is departing and thou poore soule must abide behind to endure the brunt and bitter blastes of this wretched world Ah if the loue which I bare my husband had not bene exceeding great nature would haue caused me to haue some care of thée and for thy sake to haue suffered my selfe sometime longer to liue but now as I haue shewed my selfe a louing wife so haue I scarce shewed my selfe a naturall mother But alas it was reason I should preâ—er him before thée who was the author of thée and who blessed me with thée Well I sée now my time is come my tongue begins to â—aile come deare child and take thy last Conge of thy dying mother God shield thee from shame God preserue thee from perrill God send thee more prosperous fortune then haue had thy poore parents And thus farewell my fruite farewell my flesh farewell sweet babe And welcome my Valentine whom I see in the Skies ready to receiue me And so in sorrow and ioy she gaue vp the ghost Thus was the end of Valentineâ—atally â—atally no doubt sent thus was the end of the beggers miserably accomplished Now I would wish you blazing stars which stand vppon your chastity to take light at this lot to take héed by this harme you â—ée the husband slain the leacher poisoned the wire dead the friends comfortlesse the child parentlesse And can the preseruation of one simple womans chastitie counteruaile all these confusions had not the losse of it bene lesse then of her life But it is naturally incident to women to enter into extremities they are too louing or too loathing too courteous or too coy too willing or too wilfull too mercifull or too mercilesse too forward or â—oo froward too friendly or too fiendlie the mean they alwaies â—â—â—nderly account of otherwise she might with reason sooner then outrage haue suppressed his rage she might with some continent courtesie haue cooled his incontinent desires and better it had bene to haue drawne him on with delaies then to haue driuen him into such dispaire and to haue brought him into some errour then into such feare to haue preâ—â—pated him But howsoeuer my words run I would not you should take them altogether to tend to her dispraise for as I must condemne her crueltie so can I not but commend her constancie and thinke her worthie to be coÌ„pared to Lucrece Penelope or what woman soeuer that euer had any preheminence of praise for her vertue And I would wish my gallant youthes which delight to gaze on euery beautifull glasse and to haue an oare stirring in euery louely boate not to row past their reach not to fire their fancies vpon impossibilities not to suffer themselues to be blasted with the beames of beautie or scortched with the lightning of louing lookes such affection towards the married is euer without loue such fire is without feare such sutes are without shame such cankers if they be not at the beginning cured growe to the confusion of the whole bodie Therefore gentlewoman I leaue it to your iudgements to giue sentence whether is more worthie of reprehension he or she He had the law of loue on his side she the law of men and of marriage on her part loue led him which the Gods themselues cannot resist chastitie guided her which the Goddesses themselues haue lost he killed him whom he counted his enemie she slew him whom she knew her friend she with reason might haue preuented great mischiefs his wings were too much limed with lust to flée forth of his follie FINIS * at the Lord of hostes