own mouth I had a day or two since a certain inspiration which hath given me all the satisfaction I desired Methinks I hear it still in my ear telling me that all those who have offered at any explication of Charites command understood nothing in it and that there is no doubt but to have commanded me not to obey her any more was as much as to bid me dye as soon as I could and not be any longer subject to her laws Let him therefore that is unworthy to serve her dye and in his death will be found the fulfilling of that inviolable Commandement I command you sayes Charite to me that word tells me I ought to obey her and that according to her good pleasure I should dye That is a thing soon doon and as for the other part which will have me to obey her no more that will be executed when my soul and body are separated This argues not but that I must still love Carite even in the other world but because I shall be nothing but an unprofitable shade uncapable to do her any service it may be conceived I shall obey her no more Lysis having ended this discourse began to roll his eyes in his head and to seign tremblings so that Adrian was in a pittiful taking and asked Carmelin whether it were true his Master had put any poison into the wine he had drunk I am sure sayes Carmelin that I having brought this bottle hither last night not knowing what occasion there might be of it Lysis put I know not what into it But wretch that I am I was not so careful as to ask him what it was and yet it will be said that I am partly a cause of his death by reason of my negligence Besides that it breaks my heart when I think he took that mortal draught from my hand O heavens why would you suffer it Thus did Carmelin seem to be extreamly troubled according to the directions of his Master and Adrian amazed as much as possible turned to Hircan entreating him to apply some remedy to his poor Cousin and to send for an Apothecarie that might give him somewhat to make him cast up what he had taken Hircan and all the shepherds who had been acquainted by Polidor of the dissimulation of Lysis made as if they were extremely troubled and one of them tells Adrian that he knew not of any means to give his Cousin an Antidote though the Apothecary had brought any because he being resolved to die would never take it Yet Hircan made as if he would send a Lacquay to the City for that purpose In the mean time Lysis having trembled a great while pronounced these words with a dying voice A certain benummedness begins to seize my noblest parts I am gone my friends Farewel Shepherds choose out one from among you who being the most illustrious may give you lawes If my advice be of any weight with you take Philiris I believe the Parisians that are to come will be much astonished not to find me but there is no remedy I must obey my Mistress one moment that I may obey her no more I will execute her command without command As for your part Cousin you are partly the cause why I embrace death for seeing that you would needs carry me to Paris it should be my endeavour to dye though I received no occasion as being desirous to end my dayes here that I may have the honour to be buried by my companions and in spight of your teeth remain in this happy country This discourse ended Lysis slides down into the bed as if he had fainted and after he had fetched some sighes he turned to the other side and spoke no more He kept himself so much from moving and taking his breath aloud that the shepherds concluded he was dead who was the dearest friend they had in the world Carmelin casting himself on his bed cryed out Alas my poor Master why would you dye in the flower of your age you might have yet a good while enjoyed the pleasures of life Ah! since he is dead that comforted us all in our afflictions sayes Fontenay it is fit I dye too He hath shewed me the way I am not less miserable in my Loves then he I love cruel one whom the relation of my sufferings can make never the more favourable to me Give me poison as thou didst thy Master Carmelin I will take it off presently and lye down by him that I may dye in his company Am I a common Executioner sayes Carmelin Am I an administrer of poison Had I known that the wine I had given my Master had been poisoned do you think I would have suffered him to take it Go seek poison somewhere else there is no more in our bottle I would to God there never had been any If I cannot get poison cryes out Fontenay I will take a knife and cut my throat and if I am denyed weapons I shall find some other shift to dispatch my self I will cast my self out at the window I will hang my self or swallow burning coals and will keep in my breath till I am choaked Take away this desperate person sayes Hircan you Polydor and Meliantes carry him into some chamber where let him be chained up as a mad man O God! how does Love let us see this day the strange effects of his mighty power Hircan having said this Fontenay was conveyed away and Adrian having himself felt his Cousin was so simple as to think him dead He went presently to his wife and told her this sad news They were both extremely troubled considering it would be said generally that they were the cause of this poor lads death for want of having a better care of him and were too blame to let him goe into the Country among strangers who had so confounded his imaginations that he dyed out of despair Their recourse was to discharge their fury on Carmelin telling him he was a Rogue a Traytor and a Mutherer and that it was he had put poison into his Masters wine He reproached them with being the cause of all this unhappiness and that Lysis had confessed at his death that he dyed to avoid going with them to Paris Hircan came and told them it was irreverent to quarrel in the place where the dead body lay and that there was as much respect due to the dead as to things sacred He thereupon causes all to depart the chamber and locked the dore not permitting any to go in and then takes up Adrian after this manner Let us speak a little with reason good friend sayes he to him What do you mean by making such a noise here Will you have all the world take notice that Lysis is poisoned If that be once known his body will be taken hence and justice will proceed against him as a self-homicide He will be hanged at a Gibbet by his feet he will have a brand of infamie and his
notice of all this yet did I not disâ—ontinue my visits but suffered a gradual decay of my affection to imitate the sea which ebbs so slowly out of the Rivers that it is hardly perceiv'd but with this difference that I intended no reflux So I insensibly disingag'd me out of her Love to the end she might let go quietly what I took from her without knowing how it was lost as if it had been a shadow which had disappear'd So that if there remained any affection for her 't was only in consideration of that I had formerly born her it being an incivilitie to make a stable of that place which was before reverenced as a Temple But it was to great purpose for me to wish her happiness for she met with that misfortune which a Lass of her quality ought the most to fear She never went with her Mother because the woman was still so foolish that she would have the reputation of fair and by a maxim of Gossipry would not take her in her company lest she should discover her age seeing she had a daughter so big Geneura being once at a Wedding where she had but one Maid with her a young man who had taken her in divers times to dance kept alwaies somwhat near her and proffer'd his service to wait on her home seeing no body came to look after her About ten of the clock when they talk'd of bedding the Bride a sort of unknown disguis'd Dancers came into the room and putting out all the Torches committed an unspeakble disorder In the midst of the tumult they say the Bride was ravish'd by one of her former servants and as for Geneura there was one Gismond carried her away and dispos'd her into a Coach that waited in the street In the mean while he that held her in talk before made some stir in the Hall which was observed by her Maid who knew not where her Mistress was As she was asking him for her he told her she was with him and bid her follow him The Maid believing him follow'd and kept her eye on him still in the dark and when they were come into the street where it was not much more light then on the stairs of the house whence they came she saw him conducting a Gentlewoman which she took for her Mistress so that she still followed on She discovered not the cheat till the Gentlewoman spoke and then the poor Wench almost amaz'd returned to the house where the Wedding had been for to look for Geneura where when she had in vain as'd for her of all those she met she return'd with the news of this loss to the Father and Mother and I know not whether they were much displeas'd at it or no or whether they had some assurance that their daughter was in some good place Gismond having gotten the prey he desired bid the Coachman drive as fast as he could so that in a little while they were gotten a League off Paris where they accidentally met a Gentleman a former Suitor of Geneura's who was coming out of the Countrey He hearing his Mistress speak draws his sword staies the Coachman and gives Gismond a thrust in the left arm Gismond thereupon drew out a pistol he had but it went not off only the others horse being startled carried him away across the fields In the mean while the Coachman put forward and having gotten a good distance from the place met with no further misadventure He soon after recovered a house of his Masters three leagues from Paris Gismond's wound was there lanc'd but that so carelesly that a feaver so violent ensued that ten days after he dyed Those that think it their business to speak the truth without dissimulation affirm his life was not shortned but through his impatience in his loves and that without regarding his wound he would enjoy the fruits of the spoil he had taken wherein he so overheated himself that he could live no longer This being very likely to be true do you suppose Montenor that I would marry Geneura though she be come back to her Fathers and though she still pretends to honesty I do not believe it the same case with Women as the Sun which though it be common loses not of its beauty and if I ever marrie I will take one that is not only not blamed but not suspected I have now found out a Mistress who is so far from all subtilty and affectation that she hath nothing of it but the disdain give me leave to serve her and tell me no more of this Geneura who would be better known then I were I the most renowned man in the world Anselme having paus'd there Montenor who was not able to endure what he had said of his ancient Mistress retorted thus I do not so much wonder at what you have said Anselme for it is a thing generally granted that there is no disaffection so violent as that which succeeds a friendship but I apprehend not whence it comes that you are guilty of such a change you tax Geneura with many little affectations but it is well known that since she hath been out of Gismonds hands she hath only preserved those that render her more handsome and more desirable As for her Chastity there is no doubt but she is as pure as ever 'T is generally known that Gismond who was an old Batchelor and very rich carried her away by force out of the place where she was by the assistance of his friends disguised When he had her at his own house I believe he gave some assault to her chastity But to make it appear to you how that he prevailed nothing at all you shall be shewn the Testament he made the day before he dyed wherein he bequeaths all his Chattels to Geneura repenting him of the injury he had done her and desiring to make her satisfaction and that precisely for what says he because that having endeavoured to corrupt her when she was at my house she resisted my assaults and discovered that chastity that she well deserves an honourable acknowledgment Seeing she was carried away by force says Anselme why did she not cry out for help among so many people and when she was in an open coach why did she not strive to get out When she was at Gismonds house what endeavours was she seen to have to send to her friends for to come and relieve her or to my self who should have been more ready to assist her then any of them You would also have me believe that she did not suffer herself to be vanquish'd by her sweet Enemy and you quote me his Testament to prove it But alas how plain is this cheat For what appearance is there that Gismond an old Ruffian who had design'd his means to be the prey of dishonesty and lewdness should make choice of this Wench to be his Heirress for having continued honest Was she then the first wherein he had found that vertue
the fairest Shepherdess in the world I would rather see you then kiss another I would value one of your kisses more then the perfect enjoyment of another and if ever I have the happiness to enjoy you I shall not believe any fortune equal to mine The applications you have sometimes made to Amelita replies Basilia your little reciprocal smilings and so much whispering in the ear have made me think it not impossible you might build a new affection upon the ruines of the former Ah Basilia cry'd I out will you ever persecute me thus Put me upon some dangerous adventures find out the most subtle inventions in the world for to try whether I love you And to the end I may chain my up self the further in the fair prison wherein I am I wil give you a strange advice Seek out that which is strongest in all Magick for to bind the affections and make use of it in my case let me take a Philter as powerfull as you would give an enemy whose courage you would abate Basilia took her advantage of this advice and taking me at my word she went to an old Sorceress who promised her a Love-potion But the old was not secret but went and discover'd the design to her Father who not desiring there should be any love between me and his daughter because I was not rich enough for her bethought him how to deceive her He gave a sum of money to the Sorceress to make two Drinks one for love the other for hatred That of hatred was given to Basilia and that for love he took with him He being gone out of the house I had the time to see his daughter for I ever watch'd when he went abroad but he presently was back and brought along with him a Shepherd called Lycastus whom he intended should marry Basilia because of his great wealth Though this were the first time he found me at his house yet did he not look uncheerfully on me but desired me to drink with him as well as Lycastus which familiarity I was much pleas'd with We drank of an excellent wine and the second time he was to present Lycastus he found the means to put in the Philter Basilia on the other side lost not her time and taking my glass put in some of the Hate-potion So we took off what was much mis-directed to us For my part I was above three hours before I felt any change in my body or mind But as to Lycastus being return'd home presently after he fell so sick that they knew not what remedy to apply He soon discover'd to his father and mother that the cause of this accident was that he had drunk at Nerian Basilia's father's So that he was call'd to question as a poisoner Basilia imagining all the fault might proceed from her went and declared it was she had put whatever there was in the wine and desirous to acquit her father she protested he was not guilty For my part having understood the trouble they were in I would needs deliver them out of it And though I felt in my self a new slackness towards Basilia yet could I have desired to die for her For that diminution of Love came to me only by fits and Reason which still sway'd my mind was a sufficient admonitor to me that I ought to be faithfull Nerian was accus'd for poisoning Lycastus but Basilia swore he had given it him innocently and that it was she had made the composure And I came and declared to the Judges that it was upon my instigation she had prepar'd the drink and that I ought to suffer for it and not any other The business was so confounded that it was not known whether we were guilty or innocent but Lycastus being soon recover'd we were sent away acquitted not so much as oblig'd to tell for what reason we had dress'd so dangerous a drink Lycastus having recovered to his perfect health again the skill of our Sorceress so wrought in him that he fell passionately in love with Basilia and demanded her in marriage of her father whom a while before he had question'd Nerian seeing his design effected very gladly treated with him about the business to the great regret of Basilia who saw her Magick had not much operated for though I ceas'd not to love her yet did I not think on her so often as before nor did look after the occasions to see her but very indifferently However at last my natural inclination overcame the charm and two or three of my Letters assur'd her that I would live and dye in her service On the other side the drink which Lycastus had taken being to work but fifteen dayes he returned to his former humor which was far from the marriage he had talk'd of so that the next time he saw Nerian he but very indifferently mention'd it to him Nerian swore there should never be any such thing so was he vex'd to see himself slieghted and the same day by divine permission it happened that our Sorceress was cast into prison Among other mischiefs she had done she declared to the Judges how she had sold potions to Basilia and her fathr Nerian seeing a scandal hanging over his house would thus repair it having found me out he spoke to me of bestowing Basilia on me for my wife I willingly accepted the proffer and my friends were very glad to see me preferr'd so highly As for Basilia she as having ever most passionately lov'd me was extreamly satisfied and repented her of the crime she had committed by trusting to the potions of an inchantress who robb'd some of their lives and others of their wits She hath since believed that there needed no other charms then those of her Beauty and her Vertue for to make me love her though those of her mutual affection did nothing contribute so that our marriage was thought the most fortunate that ever happened in our Country Yet having once the curiosity to ask a Fortune-teller if there were any thing I might be further happy in he answered me there was and that I should never be absolutely happy till I had seen the amiable Shepherd who feeds his flocks sometimes on the banks of the Seine and sometimes on those of Morin A while after this there came a Carrier out of this Countrey who told me that that Shepherd was called Lysis and that I should profit much by his conversation I was of opinion I could not rest while I stood in hostility against the celestial admonitions So that having discovered my designs to Basilia I soon took leave of her that I might the sooner see her again She shed so many tears at my departure as some fantastical Poets would have thought enough to bring me hither in a boat Yet I came a foot and rested not till I found the incomparable Shepherd of whom my felicity depends 'T is you Lysis whom my Fortune-teller told me of and the sweetness of your conversation banishes
the Judicial beseeching his beloved to think him worthy of a reciprocal love The Lover having gone through Rhetorick Love brings him into Logick attended with her ten Predicaments that is to say the substance of his heart really converted into that of his beloved the quantity of his sighings the quality of his affection which onght to be pure and innocent the relation between his soul and his Beloveds the action of his minde the passion of his heart the time of his sufferings the place of his repose which is the heart of his beloved the scituation of his desires upon the firm rock of Constancy and lastly he shews of what colours his habit should be that is to say grey and white to intimate unto him that he must suffer all things to approve his integrity and his faith Having gone so far he teaches him to crack an Argument but his Syllogisms must for the most part be in Barbara Ferio and Frisesomorum enduring all barbarous torments all furious assaults and all frowning and frosty returns though it were in the heart of his summer But at length he must conclude all his Arguments in Celantes for he must conceal all things Logick being attained he brings him into the eight books of Physicks shewing him first the three natural Principles which are the matter of the Lovers faith the form of the Beloveds vertues and the privation of the satisfactions of Love This done he advances to the second Book which treats of the four causes of his passion the material which is no other then his own natural inclination the formal an enflam'd desire of the thing loved the efficient the attractions favours and goodness of the Beloved I and the final her vertue and her honor Out of this he passes into the third which treats of the perpetual motion of the Lovers heart by which it moves sometimes suddenly to the service of his Beloved sometimes slowly as it were from enjoyment to privation from joy to sadness and from rest to labour This done he steps into the fourth where he shews him the infinitum of his sufferings the concentrick place where his heart ought to be that is the Beloved the vacuum of his sonl exhausted of all pleasures and the time of his affection which is perpetual This being dispatch'd this excellent Doctor leads him into the fifth book which treats of the generation of his noble and generous thoughts his chaste intentions and his honest designs and the corruption of all his impure desires and irregular affections Thence does he bring him to understand the nature of mixt bodies which are the matter of the sixth book where he learns what causes the piercing thunder of his complaints the interlaced clouds of the vapours of his sadness the blustering winds and tempests of his sighs and the plentiful showers and dews of his Tears Thence he advances to the seventh book where he findes that the earth is nothing else but his constancy The water his tears the ayr his sighs and the fire his desires the Moon his want of Resolution Mercury his enchanting Remonstrances and Addresses Venus his milde Disposition the Sun his Vertue Mars his Courage Jupiter his Discretion Saturn his Judgement the Firmament his Constancy the Empyraean Heaven the Purity of his affection and the primum mobile his vertuous love And lastly he finishes his course of Physicks with the eight Book where he contemplates the excellency of a soul that 's perfectly loved with a noble and consummate affection When the Lover is become a good Philosopher Love instructs him in the Mathematicks first he shews him Arithmetick and the four principal parts of it that is to say the Addition of present to past sufferings the Substraction of dishonest entertainments the Division of his complyant minde from it self and the Multiplication of the pains he takes night and day Thence he Screws him 〈◊〉 Musick teaching what an harmonious compliance is expected from him by the Diapason which is compos'd of three Notes whereof the lowest is Cosistancy the next Patience and the highest Fidelity In this musical Love the rests are very frequent and very sweet sharpes there are none at all When he is Master of Musick Love shews him the Dimensions of Geometry that is to say the profundity of his services and submissions the height of his imaginations the breadth of his hopes and the length of his perseverance To make him an Astrologer requires but little time shewing him the course of the Sun in the sphere of his heart and his Eclipse upon the Horrison of his eyes whose effects are sad and rusul and that so much the more as other malignant constelations contrary influences and cross aspects of the stars shall contribute thereto The Mathematicks well understood he brings the Lover into the study of Physick teaching him to let blood and open the veyns of the heart and thence to draw the blood through the eyes and to make a Diet of the ptesence of his beloved if need be From hence he ascends to the Civil Law and her three general Precepts and that teaches him to live honestly with his beloved not to offend her any way and to bear her all the respect and render all the services he can Being arriv'd to this perfection he must needs learn Navagation and embarqu◠himself into the sea of his Tears being at the mercy of the winds of his sighs under the conduct of the North-star of his Loyalty Lastly he instructs him in the Art Military shewing him how he must by main force carry the fort of the heart of his Beloved sometimes with the assistance of the fire of a pricking passion sometimes by the water of his tears sometimes by the mines of his sighs sometimes by the assault of a vehement grief or at least annoying the besieged place by a patient perseverance and when it is once Delivered up he teaches the Lover how to keep it with Modesty Discretion Honour and Vertue Now do I think I have oblig'd two sorts of people the judicious by furnishing them with matter of sport and the weak with matter of entertainment Besides that I am put in hopes that if some young Schollers chance to read this they will take it for an Encuclopaedia for it will mightily rub up their memories But I pray what is there in all this which a man would not decisively attribute to a Grammarian or a Pedant yet the Author is very serious in it There is another book call'd Loves Philosophy much pestered with the like stuff But I wonder this man doth not make Love teach his disciples all Trades and Professions since he is equally Master of them as the other But to return to Lysis who would bring in a new Astrologie directing all to his Mistress yet not so pernicious as what the Poets say of theirs For they say they are come down from heaven to conquer all the world and raise themselves Altars nay those conceptions which bring
disposing dead bodies is that of burying them and the most honorable that of burning them that the earth is the dregs and ordure of the Elements the sink of the world and mother of Corruption I cannot conceive the reason why Charron should thus abuse the poor Earth nor why he should say we have no parts we ought to be ashamed of unless to shew the inclination he had to assert that Paradox That women ought to go naked The Poets tell us their Mistresses make them dye and that they raise them again and therefore that Lysis should think so is not so extravagant Besides he remembred Aesculapius rais'd up Hippolitus Why should not Charite who is a Sun her self do as much as that son of Apollo Lysis says That Love led his soul into Hell wherein he differs from some of his ancient Masters who affirm'd that death divided a man into three parts the Body return'd to earth the soul went to Heaven or else was united to that of the Universe and there went to Hell but the Shade which what it could consist of I cannot conceive Yet those others that say the fouls go to Hell tell us stories of Shades enough to discover the contradictions of Poetry but why a soul should be call'd a Shade I see not for being a thing of more worth then the body and that in its separation it loses nothing it ought to have a nobler name Nor doth the fiction of the Waterman Charon and his fare hold any more water What need had this fellow of any money in hell where there is nothing to buy Pluto needed not this Poll-money for the earth and all the mines were his Ceres and the other rural Divinities having no more then they necessarily took up Of equal absurdity is that of Cerberus the three-tongu'd Dog Hath Pluto no other guard then that of a Dog but it must be thought there needs none in hell for the Devils need neither Dog nor Cat since they keep no house but live like Philosophers Then is Lysis brought before the three Judges and by their order sent to the Elizian fields where he rips up old Poetry and Fables so exquisitely that if all Books were lost we might have all of this nature from him He saies that the pastimes of the Devils are Cards and Dice 'T is true quarrels oathes and blasphemy are the effects of them and Avarice the Inventor But the impatience is remarkable But at what is a Gamester most impatient Is it for the loss of time in eating or sleeping is 't want of money is 't a years sickness No 't is when the candle is put out in the midst of a game or when the Die falls down and cannot be found Now comes the famous Musardan on the Stage that excellent advancer of Love-stories and Courtier of the Muses who is wellcomest of all to Lysis one that for sport-sake was admitted to some great mens tables But Fontenay continuing his follies give Clarimond occasion really to endeavour Lysis's conviction for that he had said before that Lysis ought to be entertain'd in his extravagance in regard of the Felicity of Fools 't was only for a time and by Paradox But if we will see the impertinences and absurdities of Fabulous Books and Romances more fully discovered we must advance to the Thirteenth BOOK THough there need not much be said on these two Orations the Objections and Answers being so clear yet to draw things to some conclusion I shall where my Authour hath been very liberal contribute somewhat The War of Troy is by most acknowledg'd a fiction and Homer grounded his Poem on some old wives Tales yet Clarimond says nothing of that because truth and Poetry travel not far together But he quarrels at the subject of his Books which is ill and that grand fault of not mentioning the causes of that war for that he had written any thing before is but a conjecture which yet Philiris makes the best of when he says that his subject was well enough known in Greece and that consequently he might begin where he pleas'd But as to Homer's Country which Philiris saies is heaven and that Poetry is the Language of the Gods 't is a little extraordinary though all Oracles were in verse For Homers sentences besides that they are such as it may be were in every mouth in those days all sects of Philosophy have gotten somewhat out of him as if he commend Vertue he is presently a Stoick c. Nor have they been more fortunate that make him Master of all Arts or to say better a Jack of all Trades For to make him a Ship-Carpenter 't is enough that he makes his Vlisses one To shew he was a good Cook he made his Hero's turn the spit and boil the pot and in Vulcan he is an Armourer This was an easie way to be of all Trades but it is to be thought that Ignorance and Pedantry were the Godfathers that gave him that name That any Captains and the like should esteem him as if his works could infuse courage is as improbable and yet this is no great commendation for Amadis hath sharpen'd the courage of some whose unacquaintance with affairs kept them in ignorance of what was truly military And for Alexander and Alcibiades who going into a school and asking the Master for Homer's Iliads gave him a box on the ear when he told him he had none 't is no great credit Alcibiadas was a rash yong fellow that affronted all where he came not sparing the very Images of the Gods the noses whereof he cut off besides that it shews that it was in those days a Book fitter for School-boys then Souldiers and indeed it was fit a Schoolmaster should have it it being their daily-bread as Hieron said to Xenophanes complaining of Poverty That Homer though while he liv'd begg'd his bread yet dead he maintained ten thousand men And hence it came that the Schoolmasters have ever been his greatest celebrators As for Hector's leaving the Army in a fight to go and deliver a message that was unnecessary 't was such an absurdity as Philiris mentions it not As for the fable of Circe 't is justly tax'd for dawb as you will with Mythologies Ulysses's lying with a Sorceress will be a thing of ill example As for the Beauty of Helen and Penelope Clarimond says what he ought and Philiris answers as well but for the chastity of the latter and that evasion of the web 't is such a poor one that so many yong Lovers could not but in so many years discover it But there are that say that those yong men all enjoy'd her and that thence sprang the God Pan you have the credit of the Poets for the one as well as the other Clarimond having spoken of Homer spends not time on the other Greek Poets since it was but repetition and so falls on Virgil the Prince of the Latine Poets That Dido liv'd not in Aeneas's time
not still in love with Narcissus having found Charite more beautifull then he But rather on the contrary hath not she greater cause to grieve seeing Charite is not of her own sex from whom she can expect no satisfaction Or perhaps doth she not dote on her and that at the present she is somwhat extravagant For my part I believe it or else she must be drunk Certainly 't is so says Anselme and laughs The Nymph Eccho comes from a collation at the Tavern in the Heaume where she had drunk a little too much Suresne wine But what an error are you guilty of to believe that the Eccho which answered you was the same Nymph that was in love with Narcissus There are few rocks and other places in the world where there is any hollowness but there are such voices as these whereas she that was in love with that fair huntsman who loved none but himself lives only in a rock of Beotia where her languishing hath made her so lean that there remained of her no more then the bones which were turned into stones and speech which is heard there to this day She could not answer us at that distance it must needs be that in France and other Countries there are some Demy-goddesses which drive the same Trade as she Do not believe that replies Lysis she hath a ready spirit and hears well when one calls her she comes presently in what place soever it be But sometimes says Anselme she returns our last words without ever being called and it is possible she may be called in fifty places at the same time how could she answer all But I will explain this to you Know that there were many Nymphs which were called Eccho First of all there was she that loved Narcissus which for certain was changed into Voice and answers those that travel in the Country where she was metamorphosed Beside that there was one an excellent Musitian and which we may rank among the antient Pantomimes who counterfeited the speech of all men the cry of all beasts and the chirping of all birds Pan fell in love with her but could not obtain what he desired she most unworthily scorn'd him and what is more boasted she understood Musick better then he That anger'd him so much that he incited all the Shepherds to kill her They cut her body into infinite peeces which they scattered through all the world lest they might be recomposed again But the Muses which had been her friends ordered that they should all imitate all manner of sounds as she did while she lived Pan was thereby sufficiently punished for whereas before she sham'd him but in one place she doth it now every where and counterfeits not only the sound of his Bagpipe but also that of divers other instruments whereon he could never play Thence it comes that there are few places where there is not a Voice that answers us But there is another thing worth your observation which I am going to tell you In one of the Fortunate Islands there was sometimes a very learned Fairie which having the tuition of the persons of divers Princes and Knights that were her friends found out a means to assist them suddenly in all manner of dangers and yet not go out of her palace she by the assistance of some spirits congeal'd a great quantity of Air whereof she made many Conduits which she disposed into divers Cities Mountains and Rivers making them invisible to all people and when she was to acquaint those she affected with any thing she acquainted them by that means so that in a small time she gave them to know what was to come and gave them wholsom advices and they could also answer her the same way But she departing the world there was no body could make use of her secret though divers Magycians had try'd what they could doe in it It is therefore come to pass through the injury of time that by little and little her long Conduits have been spent and broken to peeces in divers places and when men speak now the voice is carried thither but it presently comes out again through the holes as if it were some broken water-pipe without going much further If there be any places where the voice is return'd to seven times the reason is because it goes out of one pipe into another near it Let us now put all this together that in one place the Eccho of Narcissus answers us and in infinite others the members of the Eccho of the God Pan or the Channels of the Conduits You would have me believe that says Lysis I shall sooner believe that I flie like Daedalus Ovid never spoke any thing of this you have it out of some Apocryphal book As long as the Destinies shall be imployed to spin out the thread of my dayes I shall credit what the good old Authors say Anselme who was a very understanding person and took it a kind of recreation to contradict Lysis resumed the discourse to this effect Doe not you now run into a new folly in speaking of the Destinies You believe they have nothing else to do but to spin out your life must they not also spin mine and all other mens In what manner do you dispose of them Tell me how they are all imployed The first holds the Distaff which hath the Flax on it sayes Lysis she wets her fingers and twists the thread The second turns the Spindle to wind it upon And the third is to cut it with the Scissers Very good says Anselme is not that a strange absurdity The Destinies being always a spinning as long as the life of a man lasts can hold but one spindlefull at a time and yet there are a hundred thousand lives that last at the same time Is it not the same case as that of the Nymph Eccho which you think answers all the world He who first advanced these two things had he not a hollowness in his brain and so many Poets as there have been since have they not been blinded and besotted to follow him without any examination Take another doctrine that I shall teach you The Destinies whether they are in heaven or in hel are indeed charg'd with the ordering of our dayes to come which fate hath prescribed but they have neither Flax nor Spindle They have a great Pannier where there are almost as many Silk-worms as there are men living on earth all the threads of them are drawn and placed on a pair of windles The first turns it that it may be made into skains the second comes and cuts sometimes one sometimes another with the shears and the third makes provision of new ones in stead of those that are finish'd or cut Now the threads which are drawn from one only worm are to wind the lives of those that are of the same linage and when there is no more silk about the Bottom it signifies that race is at an end There is yet another thing
When one is there he is much the better to say I shake I am afraid I am ill at the heart I would return to our house No body hears you or if any do they abuse you Let us go then replies Lysis into the Plains of Leon along the River Ezla where the disgraced Sirenus hath shed so many tears That is yet too far says Anselme and besides we shall not agree well with the arrogant humour of the Spaniards You will then stay in France says Lysis Well then there is nothing but may be done I know many Provinces where there are brave Shepherds I have lately read a book called the Pastorals of Vesper wherein are describ'd the Loves of certain Shepherds of Tourain Shall we go into that Country they say it is the Garden of France Yet let me tell you these Shepherds whose history I have seen live a little too rustickly for us There is nothing commendable in them unless it be that they love faithfully What doe I dream on all this while or have I reserved it as the best till last 'T is into the Country of Forrests that we must go near the antient City of Lyons on the west-side There we shall find the Druid Adamas who dispenses with much of his gravity the better to entertain strangers We shall see Celadon Sylvander and Lycidas and Astraea Diana and Phillis I leave it to you to imagine how much we shall be taken with their conversation seeing the relation of their History is so noble that in reading it I have often wept for joy But how confident am I to refute the reasons of the inconstant Hylas and dispute against him with more heat then Sylvander And if he do not confess himself vanquish'd by my words I swear to you that I shall not abstain from blows for I should not brook it that that little Rascal should deride the fidelity of Thyrsis Moreover I shall not appear there as a stranger for I know all that is past there these many years and the Shepherds shall not relate their Loves to me It is more then three years that I conceiv'd my self among them for I was in a company where the young men and maids took their names out of Astraea and our entertainment was a perpetual Pastoral insomuch that I may truly say that it was there I went to School to learn to be a Shepherd Anselme hearing this discourse had much ado to keep from laughing yet could he not but make Lysis this answer I am willing to go into Forrests I know that the sojourn wil be very delightful and I doubt not but we shall find there abundance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses but as for those whom you name it is most certain we shall not meet them there they lived in the time of Mercueur reckon how long it may be since they are dead How say you replies Lysis doe you affirm that in jest or for want of judgment The Author of the Pastorals of Forrests doth he not dedicate an Epistle in the beginning of his first book to the Shepherdess Astraea and in the second another to the Shepherd Celadon Doth he not speak to them as to persons yet alive Besides do you not see that their history is not yet finish'd Celadon hath not obtain'd the favour of his Mistress He personates Alexis in the fourth and last book of him who hath begun to put down his adventures in writing For as to what may be in the Books which others have written of it since or may do hereafter as if they proceeded from the true Historian of Lignon I am not obliged to believe them I think if Celadon had married Astraea or had dyed as you say the Author of this History would have mentioned it and that is it confirms my belief the more It must be suppos'd that Anselme would have been much to blame if he had endeavoured to deprive Lysis of such a rare and excellent opinion therefore did he not attempt it but humour'd him in it to make more sport with him affirming that all he said did more and more heighten his desire to be a Shepherd as he was but that there was one thing troubled his mind extremely which was That if they should go to Forrests they must quit the conversation of the fair Charite without which Lysis could not live He answered that he had much considered it but that he hoped the first time he should speak to her he would use such a charming perswasion to her that she should consent to go with them and turn Shepherdess Anselme said that were very well if it could be obtained And thereupon in comes Adrian with the people of the house after him bringing up Dinner He bade Lysis make haste to dine that he might take him along with him to Paris saying that his house was all in disorder when he was not at home considering his wife was not of the best houswifes the Prentises were in league with the Servant-Maid who would give them the key of the Cellar to drink up his wine and if she would not give it them they would go down half way the well and pass through a little window which was there for to visit his Pipes Lysis answered There needed not so many words that he might go if he would that as for his part he would not live any longer under his tuition and that he was big enough to be without Guardian or Curator Adrian believing he would stay there and continue in his follies told him that if he would not go by fair means he would carry him away by foul that it was not so hard a matter to find a Coach wherein he should be chained and fetter'd and that when they were at Paris he would clap him in prison at St. Martins where he should be whipt every day or else send him to the Almshouse to keep company with such fools as they dispose thither At that Lysis was extremely angry and his Cousin was no less but Anselme by his prudence reconciled all telling Adrian in particular that as he had already remonstrated the disposition of the Young-man could not be overcome by rigor and that it were better to humour him So that he conjur'd him to leave him to his custody a moneth or two and he would desire nothing for his entertainment Adrian believing it was necessary for the dis-shepherding of him that he should be with some honest man which would acquaint him with the world consented to leave him to his care seeing he was willing to venture the trouble of his importunity and promised him a world of services in requital Anselme having obtain'd his desire sate at Table with them and there was no dispute while they were at dinner Only Adrian told Lysis that he had resolved to leave him with Anselme and charg'd him to obey him in all things as his master and benefactor He promis'd him he would not fail and seem'd very joyfull to be left in
Charite's Picture that he bestow'd not much of his thoughts on any thing else When bed-time was come there was a little Chamber assign'd him alone for he desired it should be so He made fast the door and went to bed but it was a long time ere he could sleep He had left the candle which was a good big one burning that he might consider his Picture and it is not easily imaginable what praises he still gave the Painter whose invention seem'd to him wholly divine He was thinking within himself that as Poetry was called a speaking Picture so painting might be called a dumb Poesie So that he was clearly of opinion that Painting and Poetry were well met and that both of them discovered themselves in terms distinct and intelligible enough to good wits Anselme having understood that he had not put out the candle was somwhat troubled for he was afraid lest he might set the house on fire But though he was sufficiently a fool yet did he not advance so far and unless it were for some extravagancie that the betray'd in mistaking all the Fables of the Poets for real truths and thinking men should live as the Heroes in Romances he appear'd rational enough and besides had judgment enough to know what could hurt him or was for his good Nevertheless the servants were charg'd to be carefull and so at length the candle being spent every one went to his rest and slept as he did also The next morning he rise and gave his Entertainer a visit who was making himself ready While Anselme was entertaining him with some curious and choise discourses concerning the divers effects of Love there entred into the Court a Gentleman of his acquaintance called Montenor whom he immediately went to entertain and was with him ere he was off hors-back He carried him into the Hall speaking by his gladness the obligation he laid on him in that he had been at the pains to come to his house Montenor told him that he came out of Paris betimes for two reasons The one to enjoy the cool of the day and the other which was the stronger inducement was the likelier meanes he had to finde him which he was in some impatience till he had done While they were thus engag'd Lysis desirous to know who it was entred the place where they were and saluted the Company very courteously Montenor was somwhat astonish'd at his garb and mode but presumed not to speak of him to Anselme because the other was somwhat neer as also because he was entring into a discourse of that importance that he could not wave it I am very certain says Anselme that besides your desire to give me a visit there is some particular occasion hath caused your coming hither So that the other found himself oblig'd to discover what burthen'd his mind in these words I must confess says he to him that I come hither partly upon the occasion of an afflicted person on whom there must be compassion shewn or she must not be heard complain That you may not languish in expectation 't is Geneura that I speak of Cast but your eyes on the vehemence of the affection she hath always born you and you will perceive that not being able to beget any thing in you that were not like it the disquiet she is in to see herself forsaken must needs be extreme They say that in Love the separation of Bodies is not truly absence seeing there may be visits of Thoughts at every moment But when a Lover absents himself absolutely 't is then that his affections and inclinations wander from the Object on which they should be fastened Geneura is an example of this and though you are now but at the distance of eight or nine miles from her she hath more to suffer then at other times when you were in Touraine or in Britany for then she was assured that if in the night she dreamt of you you did no less of her and that so it seem'd your minds being disengaged your bodies gave one the other the meeting at half way But now that she knows that you have quite forgotten her he that would comfort her contributes to her despair and she knows so much affliction that for to learn how to dye there is no more required then to suffer the like This hath made such an impression on me that I promised her to come to you to represent part of her sorrows that you might be induced to give her a visit at which time you shall receive the rest from her own mouth Now am I fully convinc'd as to the artifices of Geneura says Anselme they must needs be very strong sith they have been able to overcome you However I am sorry she hath employed a person so wise in so indiscreet a business I shall not repent my pains if I can satisfie your prejudice But what will you say that Geneura cannot accuse you of infidelity says Montenor and challenge what you have engaged elswhere to have been sometimes hers Knew I not that what she bewails was sometimes hers and that she hath a right to require it I should not have been so uncivil as to come to speak to you of a thing which would return as much to her dishonour as mine own I must needs acknowledge that if I should say I never loved Geneura says Anselme the very stones of her house would convince me of falshood and that it were not necessary they should speak for to repeat the things they have heard me say seeing in many places they bear yet the characters I trac'd on them when I was in my amorous fondnesses the Letters and Sonnets which Geneura hath in her Cabinet were also sufficient evidences against me But Sir what would you infer thence That because I have been a long time exposed to the furges of a tempestuous sea must I therefore return thither again and that I remain there till the consequence must be a wrack Tell me no more of the love of these Wenches that are so fickle that among them all there is not one constant unless it be in the desire of change every houre A man ought not to engage himself so far in loving them as not to preserve the better part of his Liberty for an antidote against the affliction which their lightness may bring upon him It seems by what you say says Montenor that you your self are quite metamorphosed and that you are no more one of the Subjects of the Godess of Cyprus as you have been for Love and Liberty are the two most incompatible things in the world Love must be absolute Master where-ever he is Reason gives him the place the Will obeyes and the Inclinations change for him and the service done him is not thought half what is due to him But though this God have such power yet must we not endeavour to avoid him 'T is well known that if Love be a poison 't is a pleasant one if it
they who were more then she could ever be and ever and anon she discover'd an insupportable vanity She never heard a Coach go by but she bid her maid look out at the window to see if it were not some great Lord of her acquaintance See if it be not Lysander or Poliarchus says she to the Wench though 't were but some Countrey Lass that knew neither of them How 's that said I to her once on that occasion do you know when Lysander passes by by the going of his horses or by the noise of his Coach-wheels That is not it says she but I well know he fails not to pass by every day at a certain hour just by the house and note here that in saying so she bit her lips as if she gave me a bone to pick and to make me believe that that Lord pass'd by that way for to see her Another imagination she had was that all that once saw her dyed for love and she took such a pleasure to be look'd on that one evening being in a street wherein there is always much people I saw her pass by in a Coach at the boot whereof she sate with a lighted Taper in her hand There was no Masque or Collation where she appear'd not with the first nay she would not stick to come to Revels and danced with throngs of men an action which was thought somewhat dishonorable by the discreetest persons I found her one time in a great company wherein we were six who loved her and strove to obtain some favour from her when in the mean time she was so subtil that she obliged all together For she sate on ones knee trod on the foot of another she had one Gentleman by the hand and spoke to another that stood by him That hindred not but that she heard another Lover who had a very good voyce singing and cast amourous looks on his neighbour So every one thought himself in greater favour then his Rivals but she knew not her self what would please her Whereas before she went to Mass ever and anon in the morning she went not now till almost noon because that is the time the Nobility goes and when she was in the Church though she saw a Mass ready to begin yet would she walk up and down as if she sought for one and if she saw a knot of Courtiers discoursing together she would pass through them that they might all behold her Nor indeed did the design miscarry for there was not any one that addressed not his eyes to her but it was only to laugh at her folly One gave her a jog as she pass'd by so did the other and I have heard that a witty Gentleman observing her ferretting all about so said to her Lady you need seek no further I have what you look for yet they say this sharp abuse rais'd not the least blush so much confidence was she guilty of or to say better impudence That which besides further presented the world with occasion to laugh was her gate for she gave her whole body a certain shaking as if it had been a Puppet and she negligently bent her head on every side with such measure and proportion that it seem'd she had learn'd that method by Tablature As for her cloathes there was so much matter for Reformation that she deserved an EDICT for her alone and though when she went abroad she was so gallant that there was much to be reproved yet was she not content but when she stayed at home she had better Cloathes then she durst shew abroad Her Language was also very extraordinary that there might not be any thing in her that swelt not of Artifice When she spoke she us'd a wanton lisping and of an imperfection of Speech she would make a grace As for her discourse it was only of some little Court-toyishness and she never looked on any person twice but she presently gave him some name of alliance and that receiprocally she took not another from him not once thinking that the most commonly she address'd her self to infamous persons I well observed all these things yet I was so bewitched that I excused them rather then condemn'd them And I answered those who spoke to me of the affectations of Geneura That it was impossible to finde a Beauty so accomplished by nature but there may be necessary some recourse to Art Nay I could not rid my self of the desire of marrying her and attributing all her indiscreet actions to the ill conduct of youth I hop'd one day to furnish her with better discipline then her Mother But what a mad man was I to think that a woman will exchange Liberty for Slavery He that would keep her in must give her her way and he that would have her desire any thing must pretend to stand infear of her Geneura would have done so too and I am beholding to her disdains and remissions which when I was the most enchanted prevail'd with me to seek my remedy rather in her contempt then in her enjoyment The proud Titifil forgot all respect to me that she observed before promising her self a better fortune so that to the end she might the more easily be found she freely entertained all that came While St. Germains Fair lasted she missed not a day to be there she sate on the Counter of some Shop that she might the better be perceived as if she had been some Commodity to be sold 'T had been no great matter had she only obliged those that passed by of her acquaintance to treat her with sweet-meats but she further importun'd them for some little Diamond or some piece or other out of the Goldsmiths So that if she would do so every year 't would prove a great revenue to her About that time she had purchas'd a great reputation for her Beauty and I think that when there came any strangers to Paris they went to see her in the Church and other places as if she had been some Rarity of the Citie Those that had any Suits of consequence at Law endeavoured her acquaintance for to desire her to speak for them to their Counsellours for they thought her beauty able to corrupt the Judges of most integrity But this might have been excus'd were it not that she did it for advantage and that it gained her the frequentation of a many who would not have courted her but for to deceive her I was extreamly troubled to see it though for my part I had all the reason in the world to hate her and I thence easily inferr'd her ruine For I know well there could not be a worse Guardian of a Maids chastity then Poverty and that slender Revenues Beauty and Chastity seldom lodge all at the same Inn. And what is more Geneura encouraged the less confident sort of people to ask her those things which are honestly refusable and her Cloathes words and actions seem'd to prostitute her to all the world Howbeit I took
then to take a certain Piece of a Greek Poet's wherein the Author had made all speak so as they could easily find what they had to say That would be too rustick says Mercury we must doe somewhat that 's new We have here in the house the Muses which are more knowing then the Poets seeing they inspire them Yet to tell you the truth they will not shew us any thing proper for us such is their pretence to chastity and reservation and I do not see how those that make Love-verses can imagine they assist them therein when they never make any themselves However I must tell you that we will not want for Poetry if we please though we have neither Homer nor Hesiod for we have Pythagoras and Plato that talk as strange things as the Poets Vulcan liking well of this called these Philosophers and Pythagoras being acquainted with the design of these Gods said to them As to the subject and discourses of your Comedy seek out another Author but if you will disguise your selves and entertain the company with a Mummery I promise you my best assistance I understand the business of Lots as well as any and particularly that of the Dye I can make you cast passage at every cast I can tell a little how to cheat too says Mercury Come let 's do that there needs not so much preparation That said they resolved to represent the divers qualities of Mortals which was a custom they had ever observed meerly to be in some degree reveng'd of men who ever in their Comedies represent the Gods While they were looking for cloaths and vizards to disguise themselves the other Gods broke off their revelling and having seated themselves up and down began to talk merrily of their antient Loves There was only Saturn would bear no part in these enjoyments but went to hold Ianus his head who was disgoring into his twice double-lin'd Cap. Being return'd he made the whole presence laugh for he began discourses so simple and fond as soon discover'd he was so old that he had renewed his infancie In the mean while Venus desirous of some other diversion jeer'd Iupiter for having forc'd him so often to change shape The best thing she said to him was that he had not practised his Transformations seasonably and that it was not for Europa that he should have chang'd himself into a Bull but for Io whom himself had chang'd into a Cow because if they had both had the bodies of the same Animal they had done better together and they might have generated a number of little Calves which might have been deified and might have graz'd very decently in heaven Jupiter desirous to prove in the first place that the most chaste Deities have been sometimes overcome by Love as well as himself had brought into play the Suns Sister who was neer him and shewed how she had been in love with Endymion and Hyppolitus But she alledged for her defence that sith she never saw the one but when he was asleep she could not receive any Love-enjoyment from him And that as for the other she loved him not for any reason but because he had spu'd himself chaste and that if he had yielded at her first assault she would have despised him Venus in the mean time told Neptune in his ear She hath some reason indeed to slight my Son's torch for 't were to much purpose for her to be burnt by it when it should burn no body for her I never fear'd her being the fourth among those that should strive for the golden Apple she 's the most ugly here and her face is as round as a Tabor If her face be withall big replies Neptune she is by so much the more proper to be beloved for many may kiss her at once But you consider not replies Venus that when her Lovers expected a whole face they should find but half a one do you not know she changes every quarter of a month and that sometimes she increases and sometimes decreases Venus having spoken thus of the Moon summ'd up what detractions she could of all the other Goddesses thinking by that means to advance her own beauty She had her belly-full of jeering at the ugly visage of Proserpina and her cloaths which were not in fashion and of her dressing which was so unhandsom that it was easily seen that the infernal Furies were her ordinary Tire-women She must needs also take occasion to laugh at the extravagant dressing of old Cybele who had Cities and Castles on her head But Aurora who was somwhat neer her came and said to her Do not jeer at her fair Cypris it would somwhat puzzle you to find out a more commodious fashion for an antient and modest Goddess as she is I speak what I know for ever since the beginning of the world I am her Tire-woman and every morning I give her a Gown according to the seasons sometimes embroidered with pearls and flowers and laced with green and sometimes set out golden harvests or silver snows While Aurora and Venus were thus engag'd in a tattle Jupiter speaking of the Loves of the rest as well as of his own said that seeing they had all taken the pleasure not to have abated one lascivious prank they could have plaid he was not amaz'd at any thing but one which was that the fair Cytheraea Queen of Vnchastity after so many adulteries and incests had not committed that of lying with her own son and that never any such imagination entred the brain of any Poet. This proposition was censured abominable So that Jupiter being oblig'd to change discourse spake thus to the whole Assembly I would not erewhiles discover unto you what meat you fed on in the last course you shall not any longer be in any doubt of it They were the celestial living creatures that you were presented with Venus told me but now that I was to blame for not having transform'd my self into a Bull for to enjoy Io when she was a Cow whence might arise a generation of little Calves to people the heavens But I should have been sorry to have had such childreu for when I should no more endure Beasts in so brave a country I must have been forc'd to kill them with the rest Jupiter had no sooner said so but all the Presence murmur'd against him and especially those who were any thing concerned in the business Bacchus was angry for having lost his Ram Hercules his Hydra and every one complain'd that the Creatures which were dedicated to them were taken out of a place where they did them so much honour The Sun cry'd out above all the rest saying he cared not whether ever he walk'd any more through the heaven now that his ordinary Land lords were not in the twelve Innes where he used to lodge To be short 't was generally concluded that Jupiter was to blame for putting to death a sort of beasts which did him no hurt and which
down word for word to shew what consequence the discourse might have and what judgement I should make of it But stay seeing my renown is dispers'd every where and that the Painters have already taken my picture may it not be that some Romancist of this age hath already undertaken to write of my Loves for there are those who hunt every where for subjects to exercise themselves on I am clearly against it that 's a thing ought not to be done without my approbation He thereupon turn'd to the Stationer and said to him Sir have you not THE LOVES OF THE SHEPHERD LYSIS No indeed Sir replyes the Stationer I do not know the Book I do not believe there is any hath such a Tile I am very glad on 't replyes the Shepherd you shall see such a thing one day and you shall have the Copy of it I acquaint you that I am going to Forrests to run through divers adventures for to amplifie the matter and believe it there will happen to me such rare things that when they are well writ as I hope they shall be and that you shall make them be well printed there will sell more of the Book then any other in the world For know that I observe the Art of Loving better then any lover that ever appear'd on the Theatre of History I am sorry I came not hither in my Shepherds habit you should have seen that it became me better then that Celadon who is in the Frontispiece of your Astraea The Stationer seeing that Anselme and Montenor could not forbear laughing at these pleasant extravagancies could not chuse but laugh too There were some in the shop who came to buy Books and they were somewhat amaz'd at it and considering the actions and words of Lysis did almost take him for what he was A Sallad-wench that was in the street quite ravish'd with admiration to see him pluck'd by the apron one that cry'd Hot bak'd Pears for to stay her and make her partake of the pleasure Nay there was a Begger who for being taken up there lost a mess of Pottage which he should have had three doors off At length Anselme being in haste to be gone took five or six books and paid the Stationer for them But Montenor looking what they were said Certainly you have not much to do with mony seeing you bestow it so ill For my part I am sick at the heart if I but hear read three lines of those fopperies These books are as profitable to those that read them not as to those that read them You understand not our affairs says Lysis to him We buy these books for no other end but to see if we can do greater wonders then what are related in them you shall have your share of the pleasure there will be to see them done Assure your self that if the Lovers in these histories pass two days without eating I will four and if they shed tears as big as ones thumb I will shed as big as ones head You mean a pins head perhaps replies Montenor and if you fast all day you will burst with eating at night You are a scoffer Montenor says Lysis you shall find that my words and my actions can well keep house together That being past he went into the Coach with Anselme and Montenor also because he then had no horse Anselme took this Gentleman home to supper And as he was still shewing The Banquet of the Gods which he had taken back from the Stationer he said that seeing Lysis thought the Piece too short to be printed by it self he would return it to the Author Nor made he any difficulty to tell them that he who had made it was call'd Clarimond a Young-man of most excellent parts and one that liv'd hard by his house in Forrests Lysis understanding so much was infinitely satisfied promising he should one day dispose of him as he pleased He spent the night and the best part of the next day in reading the books which were bought And the day of their departure being come Montenor came to Anselme's house so that they went all three together in the Coach They ask'd Lysis whether he knew how many leagues it were from Paris to Forrests He answered that to his remembrance he had heard say there was a hundred Who told you so are deceiv'd says Anselme and if they have counted a hundred leagues hence into that Country they have not known the nearest way But without any further information as to that point I 'll bring you thither in two dayes I make no question of that replies Lysis it may be Love hath lent your horses wings to make them go faster They entertained themselves in this manner with many excellent Poetical imaginations by the way as also in the Innes where they baited In the evening they reach'd a Village whereof Montenor's Brother was Lord the Gentlemans name was Fleurial and his Wife 's was called Cecilia Anselme was willing to go see them before he went to Brie that Lysis conceiving they went a great way might believe he was carried into Forrests Montenor's Sister-in-law who was a merry Grig presently discover'd that the Young-man had not the soundest brain And to be more certain of it she set upon him and ask'd him why he was so sad as he seem'd to be Such a courteous Lady must not be denied replies Lysis Know therefore that if I am melancholick the reason is that I too much think on the beauties of one whose feir eye enchants me What she is one-ey'd then whom you love replies Cecilia for you speak but of one eye Pardon me says Lysis 't is only that the best Poets always use this phrase though their Mistresses have two eyes And if you will have a reason of it it is because the beams of both eyes meet together as if there were but one or else because there is but one eye that hurts and the other heals Besides there are Lovers which say that their Mistresses have the Sun in one eye and the Moon in the other and Ronsard believes that Cassandra had Venus in the left eye and Mars in the right But to return to my Mistress You are to believe she is adorn'd with the pillage of the Graces and though she have a hue of snow yet doth she not cease to set me on fire perpetually Good God! if she be snow and live in Forrests there must be care taken she be not melted by the sun for it is a great deal hotter there then 't is here and if we had now a little piece of her body we might make good use of it to put into the glasses to cool the wine How could that be seeing I tell you it heats says Lysis Besides as for the sun she fears it not for she is a Sun herself How happy are you then when you are neer her if you have but a Sun-dyal you may know what it is of the clock That cannot be
of your sect Shepherd but the Mistress I shall choose must have at least nineteen letters in her name that when I shall be at some great feast I may freely importune all to present me with good bits to such a number lest I should commit a sin against the Divinity I am to adore This must not be an argument for Gluttony or Profaneness replies Lysis And besides thou considerest not that he that would imitate me as thou dost undertake to do must as well expect pains as pleasures according to the Number dedicated to his Goddess I sometimes walk seven times about the Garden in honour of Charite out of a desire I have that even my walking may be to her glory I read one Book seven times I behold my self seven times in the glass if I find it hot I unbutton seven buttons of my coat and before I go to bed I make seven reverences before my Mistresses picture But if I am constrain'd to do somwhat wherein I have neglected to keep account as to pitch the bar four times I return to it again myself and make up the number of seven And if somebody gave you four cuffs on the ear replies Clarimond would you not be willing to receive three more to make up your fortunate number If it be so you shall have the blows and all the other misfortunes and for my part when it comes to matter of eating I shall be he will eat by number But in the first place free my mind of a difficulty If of all things that are before me there be but five in every dish and that there be six letters in my Shepherdesses name must I eat nothing at all out of a fear to violate your fine mysterious Arithmetick This question is full of subtilty answers Lysis learn then that not to be wanting to thy duty thou must take but three peeces and cut each of them in two or else take but one and divide it into six But take notice that this is no handsom number and there is none like that of seven which is attributed to Charite There are seven Planets the seven Stars seven Ages of man seven Days in the week and I could make other observations besides to make it appear that by a happy fatality it comes to pass that the fairest of all the Shepherdesses hath seven letters in her name But for the present I shall say no more of it seeing Clarimond makes matter of abuse of such serious things He hath reason for what he doth as I have too replies Anselme were it for nothing else but that you are extreamly mistaken in the number of the letters of your Mistresses name for there must be more then seven for she was never call'd Charite There you are deceiv'd your self says Lysis Love himself hath nam'd her so and if she have any other name it is only given her by the vulgar that know not how they ought to speak Charimond hearing this began openly to abuse Lysis's Arithmetick But perceiving he might give him occasion to be angry he abated to a fair compliance with him The Shepherd avow'd he was of a very pleasant humour and that he preferr'd a frolick and free disposition such as his was before another man's who said nothing yet did not think the less for it Thereupon Anselme ask'd Lysis in what posture his Loves were and whether he thought himself in the favour of his Charite He answer'd he was not far from it and that it was the matter and reason of his cheerfulness But Anselme returns to him in this manner You consider not what you say Shepherd For if your Mistress love you already and is ready to grant you what you shall demand you will not have any brave occasions to make appear your fidelity This should be your affliction and it should be your desire that she were cruel to you that so there might happen to you some remarkable adventures Your reason is very specious says Lysis but I fear me there may be some want of truth in it Welcome is better then disdain whatever may be said to the contrary But you see that Astraea hath disdain'd Celadon after she had once loved him says Anselme Do you hope to be better dealt with What will you advise me to do then says Lysis There is no doubt replies Anselme but that you should cast your self as he did into the River of Lignon at the least harsh word you shall receive from Charite Let there be then three Nymphs on the shore ready to take me out of the water reply'd Lysis for what can I tell whether they 'll be there if notice be not given them before-hand I might be drown'd in the mean time for I cannot swim It was out of a full intention to be drown'd that Geladon cast himself into the water says Anselme Do you the like and you shall be look'd after Faithfull Lovers never miss relief you see Damon was sav'd and taken out of a River I will not trust to that says Lysis Let me have two Hogs-bladders under my arms and I will confidently cast my self into Lignon That 's very wisely spoken says Clarimond but for my part who am yet but an Apprentice in Love I will not presume to cast my self into the water I must leave that honour to my Master who is more knowing then I I will not plunge my self but in wine And now I think on 't according to the Poets it is only proper to the Sun to cast himself into the water yet in the time of Vintage they say he doth not lye down in the Sea but gets into one of the Fat 's of Bacchus's Wine-press where he treads the Grapes and that 's the reason he looks so red sometimes when he rises That 's an excellent imagination well said Shepherd says Lysis thou art worthy to be my Comrade Upon this Supper was ended but so that Lysis fail'd not to perfect the number of seven both in the fruits and in drinking That he was not drunk was because he drunk but small Glasses The cloath being taken away he went to the place where the Gitarhe was which Montenor had given him and never considering whether it were in tune or no he returns playing a Saraband O God cryes out Clarimond what do we hear Hath Apollo committed some new fault that hath caus'd Jupiter to banish him out of heaven Comes he once more hither among the Shepherds Is it not the sweet sound of his harp that tickles our ears Lysis staid a good while playing in the next Chamber to Montenors being very proud they took him for the God of Musick and thinking no less then that he might easily deceive others Clarimond continued still to speak and said Oh! I am ravish'd I am enchanted O what Melody is this I swoun some vinegar here quickly to comfort my heart Montenor and Anselme made the like exclamations but at length Lysis appears to them laughing and they gave him a
Charite my enemy It is true there is some sweetness in her enmity and I was in hope the last night to have charm'd her with the sweet sound of my Gitarhe You know that the nights are so quiet that there is nothing heard but the winds and the noise of the springs nor had I any thought to violate their their ordinary silence for I have been the cause of no noise but that of my sighs and that of the fountain of my tears I have lain on no other bed then that which nature afforded me And Aurora who is a very charitable Lady seeing me this morning had compassion on me she wept very much and 't is not to be thought it was for the death of her son The Hermite who was not guilty of much study apprehended nothing of this discourse all he could pick out of it was that he thought it well done to lie on the ground for to mortifie the flesh He was forc'd to say to Lysis that above all things he was desirous to know what profession he was of All my employment is to love replies Lysis if I write if I make verses if I walk if I meditate all is for to learn how to love well You are a happy man says the Hermite if so be you love nothing but the Divinity If you will serve that stay with me and take the habit of Monk we shall spend the rest of our days with much pleasure together Nor indeed can I think otherwise then that you are a Vagabond and that it were better you had some retreat Lysis discovering by this that he had to do with an Hermite said to him Know Father that I have found the true tranquility of life 'T is true there are many which turn Monks to withdraw from the vanities of the world but I have chosen another condition wherein there is a like felicity I am turn'd Shepherd not long since do you not see I have taken the habit To tell you no lye when my friends saw me take it they endeavoured as much to make me quit it again as if they had seen me enter'd among the bare-leg'd Carmelites but all their cryes have been to no purpose Whereupon the Hermite told him that his best course were to follow his first inclination if so be it were not ill however to shew him where he spent his life he led him to his Cell which was very well accommodated Lysis having drank some wine out of his begging-jack desired him to shew him the right way to Montenor's because that meeting no body that could bring him to the Shepherds of Forrests he was resolved to go back thither The Hermite told him it was above nine miles to the house he ask'd for and that he should make haste if he had a mind to recover it before night Thereupon Lysis took leave of the Hermite assuring him that if he had not been a Shepherd he would have been a Hermite and promising he would endeavour to see him again one time or other He follow'd a great road that he had shew'd him and as he went along he did nothing but meditate on this last adventure He was somwhat sorry he had not staid with the Hermite because it came into his imagination that he understood Magick and that he could have taught him many secrets He had not gone five miles but he came to the Wood where he had look'd for the Hamadryad but he knew not it was the same It belong'd to one called Hircan who at the end of it had a house This Gentleman was a great friend of Clarimond's who returning from Montenor's house had met him and acquainted him with the excellent humour of Lysis He therefore having had notice that the Shepherd was to give Charite a Serenade would needs give her one too and was come to play on the Lute before Oronte's house at the same time It began to grow dark when Lysis enter'd the Wood so that not being able to see much a certain fear seizâ—d his soul Is not this Wood consecrated to some God! said he in himself Behold here is a place so desert that no body comes into it if he be not out of his way Never any Shepherd nor Grasier enter'd it and there was never heard the noise of an axe in it I dare not so much as lean against these bushes such is my fear they may lose some of their leafs and that I commit so many murthers He advanc'd still with much respect till he perceiv'd Hircan who was walking in an Alley with a wand in his hand He presently believ'd he was a Magician that dwelt there and making him a low conge he says to him I crave your pardon that I am come to disturb your solitude Had you not desired I should have seen you you might have employ'd your Art to hinder my entrance into this Wood But I believe you are content I should come before you seeing you have permitted it and I hope you 'll give me leave to address my vows to the Divinities which you adore Hircan hearing this knew presently he was the man that Clarimond had given him a character of and being very glad of this rencontre told him he might freely come on any place that belong'd to him even into his house which was ever open to persons of merit I am then to give my thanks to the Destiny that hath brought me hither replies Lysis A poor Lover as I am may receive much assistance from such a man as you you know the properties of herbs and stones and by your Magick you afford remedies to all that are afflicted Hircan perceiving by this that Lysis took him for an Enchanter would continue him in that opinion and answered him thus You are not deceiv'd if you believe that nothing is impossible to my charms When the Moon is ecclipsed it is I that have drawn her from heaven for to lie with me and of the chastest of all the Goddesses I make my Concubine I caus'd one morning such an Earthquake that all the pots and kettles were overturn'd and all manner of housholdstuff was turn'd topsie-turvie Sometimes I stay the Rivers and hinder them to pay their tribute to the Sea I root up the Trees of the Forrest as easily as a Labourer plucks up the stalks of corn and if I have some message to send any where I command the Spirits as I do my Lacquays You shall not be desired to do so great things for me says Lysis nor do I desire you should cause the Trees of my neighbour to remove into my ground nor that you give the scab to the sheep of my Rival All I desire to know is whether my Mistress loves me or no and whether I shall one day receive the satisfaction of my wishes Come you shall sup with me Shepherd replies Hircan to him We 'll consider of those things hereafter Having said so he led him into his Castle which was so well built that
said in himself No no there is no shame to put on this garb when Love commands it The great Alcides chang'd his club into a distaff and put on Joles gown instead of his Lyons skin Was not Poliarchus cloath'd like a maid and was called Theocrine and did not Celadon do the like and was called Alexis This is the principal subject of Romances and an amorous history is never good if there be not a young man puts on maids cloathes or a maid a mans I appeal to all those who pass away their days in that delightful reading I would to God Charite would imitate me and put on the habit of my sex as I have put on that of hers Then must she pretend to love me and if we were married the change of cloaths would not deceive any body all would be very well In the midst of these noble thoughts the disguis'd Shepherd came to Orontes's house and having ask'd to speak with Leonora he was carried into the hall where she was together with the rest of the Company Hircan stood up presently and said to her Madam here is a maid wants a service she is a kinswoman of my farmers wife if you will take her I will be accountable for her true service Leonora bid her draw near and striving as much as she could to refrain laughing ask'd her what she could do Amarillis promis'd to do any thing was commanded her with a little shewing I see well saies Leonora how the case stands this maid is not good for the Chamber nor for the Kitchin but may serve to do somewhat every where What say you as to wages you need not think of that replies Hircan you shall reward her according as she shall have served you So Leonora resolved to take this fine servant who presently told her name whereat those that were present could not any longer forbear laughing As for Amaryllis she look'd like a scar-crow in a Hemp-yard Her back was long and flat as if she had carried a flat basket on it and for her breast it was no more plump then a Trencher the rest was streight as if it had been a distaff swadled about Hircan being gone away they gave Amarillis divers things to do which she did as well as any other should have done She laid the cloath rinsed the glasses and made clean the chambers and all with such modesty that all wonder'd at it The fair one durst not as much as lift up her eyes and when she was at dinner with the men she would have been very much out of countenance had it not been that there were other maids as well as she and especially Charite whom she perpetually considered and view'd The men and maids knew all that it was Lysis but they were expresly forbidden to discover that they knew any thing nor to call her by any other name then Amarillis so that lest she might betray any thing there was but little spoken to her In the afternoon came thither Anselme and Montenor who had sent their people all about to look for Lysis of whom not having receiv'd any tidings they were come to Leonora to have some news of him She told them that she had not seen him and thereupon call'd Amarillis to bid her do somewhat As soon as they saw her they were so surpris'd that they said not a word but when she was gone Anselme cryes out well Madam if that be not Lysis it is a Maid extreamly like him Leonora told him he was not mistaken and acquainted him what adventures the Shepherd had run through at Hircans the Magician Anselme was infinitely pleas'd at the narration and went into a Chamber where Amarillis was She made as if she knew him not nor did she discover her self so that he left her and beset himself to talk with Angelica About an hour after came Hircan and Clarimond whom he had sent for then was the time come that they resolved to make good sport with the new maid Clarimond made it his business to play tricks with her and would have kist her She thrust him back still as hard as she could but that which most discover'd her was that she could not sufficiently counterfeit her speech and instead of speaking like a simple Country wench she spoke a quaint Court phrase Let me alone says she at every word I would be touch'd no more then if I were a vestal Be quiet you would ravish me have you any attempt on the Candor of my Chastity and would see the wack of the Vessel of my Continency Sometimes she spoke of her self in the masculine gender instead of the feminine yet no body seem'd to take any notice Clarimond set on her still with fine complements in which he call'd her his Goddess and his Nymph They could not refrain laughing to see that he gave such qualities to a Wench so ill drest and Angelica ask'd whether the Nymphs wore coifs You need not doubt but there are some that do says Anselme for they are ever drest according to the fashion of the Countrey where they reside That 's the reason that those of the river of Marâ— wear coifes such as are made at Meaux and those of the River Seine wear french-hoods after the Paris fashion There past divers other pleasant discourses on the like occasions but all this was not much for they conceiv'd they might have made much more sport with Amarillis yet they made as nothing were and those who were not of the house returned every one to his own home leaving Leonora and her new maid Amarillis pass'd over four days with all the satisfaction in the world They had assign'd her a little chamber where she lay alone and never went out before she was fully dress'd by a glass she had Though she spoke not to Charite but as to another ordinary servant yet she thought the heavens very favorable to her that she had the opportunity to see her when she pleas'd Leonora was not weary of keeping her for she took a pleasure to see with what diligence she served her and on the other side she fear'd not any ill report might come to her house by her means She was of those that are in love by way of contemplation whose pleasure are rather those of the minde then those of the body and she always set before her eyes the chastity of Alexis who when he had his Mistress naked in his arms had not the presumption to do any thing to her if she thought it a happiness to love Charite she thought it no less to be her self loved by Marcel Orontes's Gentleman This young Lad made excellent sport with her when he spoke to her of love but she thought his discourses nothing but vanity When she look'd into the glass she thought her self very handsome and she was not far from a misfortune dangerous as that of Narcissus for the soul of Lysis lov'd that countenance of Amarillis which she saw that made her often kiss
I knew this Magician had thwarted the course of nature whereas in other places the water falls down from heaven to earth here it issues out of the earth as if it would threaten heaven Or is it that this peece of earth will weep in its turn for the pains which I suffer There was with Hircan a Cousin of his called Fontenay who was come to see him He wondred much at what Lysis said as never having heard any thing equally extravagant He took aside one of the servants and ask'd whether he knew him He answered that he knew no more of him then that he was one become a Fool through an excessive love he bore to Catherine Leonora's Chamber-maid He was yet more to seek for he knew the Wench and thought it impossible she should cause so much love He knew she was of a fair complexion and that she was somewhat flaxen-hair'd but she had in requital some features in the face which were so far from handsom as were sufficient to raise her the esteem of deformed He therefore not being satisfied spake to Hircan of it who in few words acquainted him with the disease of Lysis When he understood it he goes and confidently sets upon the Shepherd saying to him I hope you 'll pardon my curiosity if I ask you who you are For seeing you have an extraordinary manner of speaking I am very desirous to learn it All those of whom I have enquired concerning it can give me no satisfaction at all I never refused any man living what thou askest me says the Shepherd know then that I am Lysis and let that suffice thee That 's not enough replies Fontenay know then replies the Shepherd that I am a Lover of the fair Charite All this is nothing says the other to him what Profession are you of What an importunate fellow art thou says Lysis seest thou not I am a Shepherd doth not my habit discover so much But that you may not quarrel with words nor take things literally I tell thee that I am not of the number of those rusticks whose residence are the fields I am of those whose histories are committed to Romances which are every day made and whose actions are represented by the Players on their stages In good faith Master saies Fontenay who could conceal nothing he knew I think you are the successor of Don-Quixote of Manca and that you have inherited his folly After he had been Knight-Errant he would be a Shepherd but he dyed in the design and I believe you would be Shepherd in his stead and continue his extravagancies You lye says Lysis I do nothing but of my own invention I never imitated him you speak of and if I have read his history it hath been by the way He was a fool who imagin'd himself a Lover of Dulcinea when he had never seen her whereas I have the advantage to converse with Charite every day He understood nothing of the soveraign felicity 'T is not in Arms it will be found there is nothing but trouble and the minde thereby becomes brutish 'T is in keeping of Flocks that there is profit and pleasure Fontenay seeing the Shepherd beginning to be hot to vex him the more said to him Thou givest me the lye infamous wretch assure thy self thou shalt give me satisfaction What dost thou think thy self to be thou art the contempt of all the world That Charite for whom thou sighest so much cares not for thee and 't is of me that she is passionate every day she courts me and yet I will not be catch'd by her enticements for I have a many other Mistresses handsomer then she Here it was that Lysis was all afire he was making towards Fontenay to strike him but Hircan held him by the arm and carried him a walking another way while Clarimond entertain'd his enemy Lysis ask'd Hircan whether he had not some Magical glass wherein he might see whether it were true that Fontenay was beloved by his Shepherdess Hircan told him that he had broken his out of indignation that he had once seen a Mistress of his in the arms of one of his Rivals and that he had not yet had the leasure to make another but that he could tell him what he desired to know by some otherwayes and that if Fontenay had offended him any way he would see him reveng'd of him Thereupon he shew'd him a little grove of his and told him that all those trees he saw had sometimes been men that he had metamorphos'd because they had done some injury to him or his friends and that to inrich himself in a moment he found nothing so easie as to make a forrest of his Enemies which should be full grown timber and ready for the ax Lysis who had a while before read Ovids Metamorphoses where there are things far more incredible easily believ'd this He resolv'd to be ever a friend of Hircans both that he might not hurt him and might assist him to punish those that should injure him A while after Hircan having carried the company into the house to a Collation Lysis said not a word to Fontenay contenting himself not to look on him Synopa was there who as she was as impudent as need be wish'd she went and said to the Shepherd before all that were present Ah! inhumane heart wilt thou never believe the torments I suffer for thee Behold the thing observ'd in all Pastorals sayes Lysis a Maid ever loves him that affects her not In Montemajor Seluage pursues Alanio Alanio courts Ismenia Ismenia Montan and Montan Seluage So Synopa follows me I Charite Charite desires Fontenay and Fontenay desires another Shepherdess who haply loves another Shepherd that can affect none then Synopa Is not that a fine wheel and as good as that of Pythagoras We 'll run one after another in the fields holding by one another behinde as children do at a certain play whereof I have forgat the name Charite shall say Go not so fast my Fontenay and Lysis shall say Stay my Charite at least let me dye in your presence and then Synopa shall come after and say Forsake that ingrateful one Lysis and stay with with her that lives not but for thy sake I do not wonder at the diversity of all our affections for it must necessarily be so and there were never any Pastorals seen wherein that hath not been observed But it is withal to be noted that one day all shall be reconciled and by the power of some God it shall come to pass that every one shall love what he should love as it happens in the end of every good history which ever concludes with marriage Every one seem'd to admire these excellent reasons so that Lsis thinking he had spoken mightily to the purpose was very well satisfied Yet when he had left Hircans house there came somewhat into his memory that animated him against Fontenay Had it not been for that he would have return'd back to the
was up heard his cryes as being not far from the place and accidentally meeting Carmelin at the same time he learn'd of him the despair of his Master They presently went both to him whither when they were come What says Clarimond to him will you continue there still Shepherd of what do you intend to live Alas replyes Lysis ask me rather what I shall dye of and I will answer you I will dye of Love I do not hope any thing from Charite she abhors me and will not endure to hear me spoken of Thereupon Clarimond ask'd Carmelin whether Charite was so cruel in good earnest If you had seen her when she spoke to me replyes Carmelin you would have taken her for a Tygress in a womans dress but it must be withal confest that she was the fairest Tygress that ever was seen Her eyes did so sparkle that as I have heard from my Master and other amorous persons they seem'd to be a fire and I did really imagine that they did cast squibs and crackers at me as the Boys use to do at mid-Summer See there Is not that it I ever believ'd says Lysis she was then possest by that spirit of choler which is ever about her It is long since that she hath threatned to consume me But O ye Gods you have ordain'd otherwise of me and your Revelations this night have taught me that your pleasure is I should be ranked among the Metamorphoses that I might be added to those of Ovid. This is no delusion Clarimond you might have observed that when ever the heavens know not what to do with a man and yet would shew compassion on his sufferings they change him into some new form I believe it says Clarimond and since it must be so let us consider how to bring about things and we shall finde all will be well Take you such a course as that of a disconsolate and a desperate Lover as you are now you may be chang'd into a free and contented man that you may with as much ease slight this your ingrateful Shepherdess as she doth you and that will be a very excellent Metamorphoses You do not apprehend this Mistery replyes Lysis for instead of being chang'd into the contrary the change is ever into some thing that suits with the former humor As for example a Thief shall be transform'd into some ravenous Bird a cozening companion into a Fox and a tractable person into a sheep Now that I am upon the point of losing my former shape I must seriously put my self into some good humor that I may not be Metamoaphos'd into some unpleasing creature However I have one secret shall bring me into a great esteem and it is this I will not take a form that any other hath already had and my desire is to have a Metamorphosis that was never yet talk'd of Carmelin had already discover'd that his Master and his senses were at a distance but yet he did not think they were gone so far astray as that he should imagine such gross Extravagancies Nevertheless seeing Clarimond seriously listening to him and calling to minde what he had heard spoken of the ancient Metamorphoses his piercing inginuity was at a loss what to think of it Lysis having by this time made an end of sighing and sobbing lifted up himself a little and bid Clarimond sit by him Well come sayes he to him let 's put the case that the Gods will give me the liberty to choose the form I am to take what will you advise me to for my part says Clarimond if your case were mine I should wish to become a little Shock Charite would kiss you would trim you would feed you out of her own hand and you should lie with her Do but consider a little what pleasure you should have That 's handsomly propos'd says Lysis but there is a dog already in the house against whom the Cats which are at least seven or eight are in perpetual hostility and do often give him such clawing embraces as he takes very unkindely I should not be well pleas'd to be scratch'd in that manner by them Be then Metamorpos'd into a Flea replyes Clarimond you shall leap up and down her body you shall go into the bosom of your Shepherdess and thence a little lower the rest I leave it to your self to imagine But if Charite catch me replyes the Shepherd shall I be proof against her nails and then what will become of poor Lysis I am not for any of all these I think there is nothing better then to be turn'd to something without life for then no body meddles with one but I am suffered to last as long as I can I do not speak of Plants for they live I mean some sort of moveables and necessary things as for instance a Looking-glass and that form I think very fit for me for I have already Charite's picture drawn in my heart I should represent her face as well present as absent but withal I would not receive any other images and it should be in vain for others to come to look in me Now when one is thus chang'd into a moveable one is not for that insensible but the soul retires into some corner Master without displeasing you says Carmelin I have as excellent inventions on this occasion as your self Change your self into a Smoak and so you shall touch the delicate skin of your Charite or else into some Gorget and you shall touch her breasts and she will wash you with her own hands methinks it would come very seasonably for you are grown very foul by lying on the ground to night But a better then any is to be chang'd into a Knife I 'll be the Pedlar that will go and sell you to her and she shall put you into her own sheath and wear you at the side of her virginity That were indeed a fair transformation Thou hast given over to speak learnedly Carmelin replies Lysis I believe the vexation thou art in to see me thus afflicted hath caus'd thee some loss of wit Thy two first Changes methinks are not glorious enough for me and for the last it is a most impertinent one and very dangerous Seest thou not that if I were a Knife it might happen that I might cut the fingers of my Charite which I should be infinitely sorry for Do not thou interpose thy self any more in this affair Go immediately home and bring away my Flock or rather thy own into the fields Carmelin was forc'd to obey his Masters command He was no sooner gone but Hircan who was taking a walk all alone to see his friend Clarimond came into the very place Being perceived by Clarimond he said not a word because he would not interrupt Lysis's discourse and beside he saw the other made signs to him to that purpose Hircan coming softly behind the Shepherd to frighten him a little would needs turn his hat round but he gave it such a turn that
you have Observe that amorous wounds are much more dangerous then those you dress every day and that experience teaches us that a Mistress is never in any sickness wherein the servant sympathizes not with her and in a Love-disease instead of one sick person there are ever two The Chyrurgion after this discourse receiv'd his gratuity and went away much amaz'd Lysis having put his arm in a scarf bid Carmelin help him on with his cloathes As he walk'd up and down the house comes in Clarimond who was very careful to know in what posture he was Seeing him with all his swathings about him he ask'd him what hurt had hapned to him since Lysis told him that he would needs be let blood and swath'd as Charite was who had a swelling on her cheek The imitation is very noble saies Clarimond to him but it is not to the full for methinks you should have your face swollen as well as your Mistress That 's it I would have perswaded him to replies Carmelin and he should either have given himself or got another to give him a many good blows to make his eyes swell Thy knavery is not the least in the world saies Lysis hold thou thy peace there 's no body speaks to thee As for your part Clarimond you are to know that I was not only coment to have the left eye bound up but that a while since I would needs have them both not knowing which it was that should be Carmelin being gone to fetch the Chyrurgion before he had bound me them up I have always kept my hand on them lest I might see any thing for is it not fit the eyes of a Lover should be obscur'd when one of their suns shine not As for my letting of blood besides that it is in imitation of Charite it is otherwise very good for me but especially for this reason that I have been much pleas'd to see my blood Look on 't Clarimond you shall see therein the pourtraicture of my Mistress for all my veins are filled with that fair figure which takes up all my thoughts Clarimond beheld the blood and to satisfie Lysis said that he saw therein somewhat resembling a face With that little sight that is left me saies Lysis to him I can see Charite there in her whole proportion For your part should you observe nothing 't were not your fault but it were Loves who would not permit you to see any thing therein Clarimond having some business elswhere left Lysis being now assur'd that he was sick of a disease which no Physick or Phelbotomy could cure He purposely sent a Lacquay to Montenor and Anselm to acquaint them with the late actions of the Shepherd Had they not been taken up in the entertainment of some that were come to visit them they had given this poor patient a visit The night being come Lysis went to bed as he was wont but much rest he had not so much did the remembrance of his Mistresses command disturb his thoughts He was ever at Carmelin with his elbow for to awake him and to put him to some new explications of it I cannot endure to repeat the same thing so often saies Carmelin to him or at least stay till it be day for to question me The night is onely made to sleep would you have me less happy then the beasts which now are every where asleep I 'll lay you a wager there is not at this present one of our sheep awake Wilt thou conform thy self to the beasts replies Lysis 't is a bruital felicity that thou desirest The night is not only ordain'd to sleep in but also to consult about affairs Know that the greatest wits and ingenuities are they that resist the charms of sleep to entertain themselves with their imaginations The Lovers are they also that have this custom and especially among them the Shepherd Lysis All the fault thou art guilty of in not imitating me proceeds from this that thou hast yet thy Liberty O what a prodigy it is to see a Shepherd so free Thou ought'st rather be Soul-less then Love-less But it is true that I foresee thou wilt shortly be put into the chain as well as the rest Love is importunate till he wound those that resist him and none loves more passionately then a cold disposition as thine is when it begins to be enflamed Whether it be so or not it s no great matter saies Carmelin but for the present I am so desirous to rest my self that though they should cry Fire I would not rise whether they should mean the fire of Love or that of the Chimney This discourse ended the two Shepherds spake no more one to another When it was day they put on their cloathes both together and for company-sake went abroad with the flock while they drave it still before them being near a farm of Hircans where they had not yet been Lysis made a sign to Carmelin and said to him if I am not deceiv'd I hear the sound of a rural instrument without question we are now in the Shepherds Countrey Carmelin confest that he also heard somewhat very harmonious And descending into a little valley they perceiv'd a Shepherd playing on the Bag-pipes Lysis being come near him Pan defend thee gentle Shepherd saies he to him I am ravish'd to see thee it is a long time since I saw any of our quality thy entertainment here is very delightful Thou inspirest the holes of thy sweet sounding-pipe Now am I certain thou art no idle person had I my Gittarrhe here we should make a consort together This Shepherd who was a Countrey fellow simple enough was amaz'd to see Lysis and Carmelin in the posture they were in that he view'd them one after another from head to foot insomuch that Lysis seeing he said nothing continued his discourse Dost thou think saies he to him that the instrument thou playest on is more proper for those of our quality then the Gittarrhe Were I sure of it I would learn on the Bagpipes to the end I might be Pastoral in all things Master says Carmelin though I cannot play well on the Bag-pipes yet I can do somewhat at the Flute Here 's one saies Hircans Shepherd le ts see what you can do Carmelin took the Flute out of his hands and began to play Gueridon's tune and the other Shepherd bore a part with the Bagpipe whereat Lysis was very well satisfied When they had dismiss'd their instruments My Lads saies Lysis to them your musick is sweeter to the ear then the noise of a brook that slides through the peebles 'T is delightful to hear the plaints of a Heifer when Love pricks her sweet is the singing of a Swan that 's dying sweet is the warbling of the nightingale sweet is the honey which is prepar'd by the little bees sweet is the sugar of Madera but far more sweet are you Pastoral instruments Some other time I will make you talk of
will laugh also if I desire any favour it will be as soon obtain'd as desired if I give my Nymph any thing there will be nothing at all lost for I shall give all to my self if I bestow my endeavors to preserve her I shall preserve my self with her I shall not fear she will betray me for she will never be guilty of any thoughts which I shall not know and jealousie which possesses so many Lovers will exercise no tyranny over me I see many others much troubled that they have Rivals but for me to have any I shall account it a huge pleasure so nothing being able to bring me any discontent in my love I shall ever live fully satisfied And if it be objected that I trangress the ordinary Laws of men I will say that the fairest bird of natures making which is the Phoenix is content to love himself and seeks no further object for his affection After this discourse I paus'd a good while and as I was busied in viewing my own fair countenance Zenocritus comes and askes me Whether I had not sufficiently seen my Mistress and if I would not return to his house I am fully satisfied as to her sight said I to him but I would also have been glad to have heard her speak I have not yet been able to make her break her silence Ask her somewhat saies he no doubt but she 'll answer you I had the curiosity to try his skill so turning towards the water Fair Nymph said I may I be assur'd that you will have a memory for the most perfect Lover that lives Then I heard a feeble voice which seem'd to come from a league off me which said to me Assure thy self that the same arrow as hath wounded thy heart hath wounded mine also I was so astonish'd at this that I became as insensible as a stock Zenocritus put the vail again over my head and assuring me that his charm was at an end he led me back to his house I not saying any thing in the world to him I could not come certainly to know whether it were a Nymph I had seen or my own representation only the cloathes I had on made me suspect the cheat but withal the voyce I had heard made me believe there might be somewhat more in it Being in the dark chamber of Zenocritus he took off my maids cloathes and put on mans but though I perceiv'd all this yet had I not the courage to accuse him of imposture My comfort was that however he had given me some satisfaction by teaching me the invention of loving my self so that as I parted from his house to return to my own I gave him a Diamond for his recompence The very same day I spoke of him to a Gentleman a friend of mine who assur'd me he was the greatest cheat in the world and among other subtil tricks he had that of making a voyce proceed from the bottom of his stomack having his mouth shut as if it had been another person at some distance from him had spoken and that by this means he had abus'd many answering them to what they desir'd as if he had been a spirit or some departed soul I remembred I had heard say that in ancient time there were prophetesses that spoke through the belly so that I easily believ'd Zenocritus had the same power Yet thinking ever on the pleasure he had done me I would not wish him any hurt and forgetting the imaginary beauty of the Nayad which I had not clearly seen I admir'd none but my own I had at this time neither father nor mother but liv'd at my own liberty I caus'd womens cloathes to be made me which I ordinarily wore and being lockt up into my chamber where there was a looking-glass four foot high and three broad I view'd my self from head to foot I was quite ravish'd in that contemplation though all my happiness consisted in the superficies of a glass and I wish'd my eyes had been dispos'd into some other part then my face that I might have view'd that in its natural Yet my faithful ice representing it to the life to me I caus'd the Idea of those beauties to pass into my heart where it was preserv'd And thus was I surpris'd by an extraordinary love and if you have observ'd the adventure that gave it its beginning you will conclude that he that first presum'd to say there were Nayads had seen some that were suppris'd as I was That may very well be saies Philiris some Poet had had a glimpse of a maid in a River or else some Ideot seeing himself in the water had believed his own image was another Nymph As for your part I believe your design was to renew the fable of Narcissus but yet you have done nothing so simply as he if you knew not your self when you first beheld your self and if you took the figure you saw for a Nymph 't was because you had chang'd your cloathes but Narcissus who had no other then his ordinary cloathes took his own representation for some fair Goddess If that were true I should say that the yong man were turned fool but that being false I must say that the Poet who invented it had no judgement For put the case that Looking-glasses were not in use in the Country of Narcissus and that in his mothers house there were not neither skillets nor basins in the bottoms whereof he might have seen him self could he that was a Hunts-man and had much acquaintance with the fields be without ever beholding himself in a Fountain Had he lived to the age of sixteen and never met any And if he had met with any as it must be necessarily conceived why should he behold his own face as a new thing and imagine there were a Nymph under the water why had he not rather committed this simplicity at eight years of age then it might have been excused By this it is easie to see that for to make the adventure probable it should have been accommodated like that of the Shepherd Fontenay I do not grant you that replies Lysis for in the first place I will not have any thing reformed as to what hath been anciently believed concerning Narcissus because it may have hapned that he loved himself after one manner and Fontenay after another The lives of all men are different and consequently their Histories are so much the more delightful As concerning the Nayads though Zenocritus have deceived this gentle Shepherd and hath made him see his own image in the water instead of a Nymph it does not thence follow that there are none The fair one he had seen the night before was one indeed and I make no question but he knew her well enough since Wherefore let him continue his History and we shall see what were the end of his loves I have acquainted you erewhiles replies Fontenay that it was in my infancy that I believed there were Nayads
passionate that I imagined that the harmony proceeded from the fair Chantress I had seen and not from me I put on no other cloaths but womans and my servants who would not contradict my delightfull humours call'd me rather Madam then my Lord. The neighbours who heard no more talk of Fontenay thought him dead or gone to travel and as for the fair Lady which remained in his house she was thought to be his Sister When I look'd out at the window there would ever be some Gentleman passing by whose business was to see me so great was the fame of my beauty nay there were some who would needs demand me in marriage Now once above all there came to my house a young Lady who told my people that she must needs see me I did not at that time appear much at the window so that she could not see me but in my chamber a thing I should hardly permit for I was afraid it might be some man disguised who came to ravish me or else some woman who knowing I were a man came to ensnare me into Love She was a good while at the door desiring me to open but I would not do it before she had declared to me her design Know then fair and solitary Nymph says she to me that I am called Theodora and that all the world having acknowledged that my beauty was incomparable I have been so vain as to have believ'd it till now Yet the common report having taught me that thou hadst an admirable beauty I shall never be at rest till I have seen whether thou art fairer then a many other whom I have excelled I who conceived my face the handsomest in the world and believ'd it concerned the reputation of my Mistress not to suffer the presumption of Theodora who thought herself incomparable I promised her entrance on condition she swore not to stay with me above a quarter of an houre When she had taken her oath I opened the door But O ye Gods what miracles did I find in her she had so many attractions that I was even dazled with them and began to tremble out of astonishment acknowledging I had nothing worth the comparing with her However finding in my heart a little obstinacie I thought it was because I remembred not my own beauty and so presently I address'd my self to my glass But alas what inequality did I find For besides that Theodora's face was fairer then mine her breast was uncovered where the two Bowls whiter then Alabaster were without any thing else able to make me perish considering I was not furnished with any such beauty That gave me such an assault that I kneel'd down before Theodora and said to her Fair Goddess assure your self that this day you have overcome the proudest creature in the world She presently lifted me up and believing she were indeed somwhat above she began very insolently to relate how many other triumphs she had already made Then she made me look on an ancient woman she had brought with her who was to testifie to all the world that I was not so fair as her Mistress After this she left me though I entreated her to stay with me that day for she said she would not break her oath So was I soon deprived of her amiable sight through my own fault but her Idaea remained so engraven in my mind that I would never any more behold my own face in the glass I forgot my self for her sake and being weary to be the Lover and the thing loved both together I resolved to be passionate for something that were more sensible then a shadow Thereupon cursing the Glass which had enchanted me so long I took a stick and brake it into more peeces then times I had look'd in it I burn'd all my womans cloaths representing to my self that to be loved by Theodora I must appear as a man And to say true this change of humour fell out very seasonably for I could not long dissemble my sexe since my cheeks began to be hairy and that it was no small trouble every morning to get it off It was so long since I had gone like a man that I had much ado to bring my self to it again yet I quitted my solitude and shewed my self to all the world so that then all the talk was of Fontenay and that it was not known what was become of his Sister My first visits were to Theodora with whom my business was Love but I found her so cruel that I imagin'd she were not to be wrought to compliance by any natural remedies I went therefore to Zenocritus whose reputation was much encreas'd and having discovered my passion to him he promis'd me more effectual assistance then when I loved the Nayad by how much it was easier to gain a humane creature then a divine His cajolling and fair tales enchanted me more then his charms and such a confidence did I place in him that I never dreamt any thing which I did not relate to him for to have the interpretation of it I saw no birds in the air but I gave him the number of them and made him a register of all my thoughts and actions that he might thence make his presages If I were to return to Theodora's he lookd ore certain books and cast certain lots to see if the day were fortunate for me Notwithstanding all this there was no great appearance that my affairs were any thing advanced and I fed my self with nothing but hope So that calling to mind that I had a Cousin in these quarters who was thought a very able man in Magick I resolved to come and see him and renew that kinred and acquaintance with him which my father had neglected I visited Hircan to whom I have related all my fortunes He advised me henceforward to beware the impostures of Zenocritus and he who is acquainted with the true and sound doctrine gave me an herb that made Theodora love me if whenever I was to speak to her I put it into my mouth To be withall reveng'd of my false Magician and pay him in his own coin by the advice of my dear Kinsman I presented him with a pleasant little Book which treated of the means to find Treasures He was content with that recompence and lest I might pretend to part of his riches he is gone out of this Province to practise his vain secrets which he conceived were above my understanding I have since married Theodora to the satisfaction of all that knew us who rejoyc'd to see the Fair married to the Fair and we have hitherto liv'd a very comfortable life together And that I have now left this dear Spouse it hath been for some business of very great consequence which I have with my learned Cousin As to what concerns Charite of whom I boasted I was belov'd in the presence of her faithfull Lover he hath no reason to be any way jealous for what I spoke then was out
for her sacrifices the heaven is the roof of the building and the Planets are the lamps that hang in it I will not contradict thee in so noble an imagination replies Lysis I will think no further of building little Temples to Charite But thou art withal to know that we have had other discourse erewhile we have had a great contestation about Metamorphos'd persons and rural Divinities which there are divers that cannot believe are at all I will cure them of that error says Hircan put me in minde of it This discourse ended Fontenry made a brief relation to his Cousin of the Metamorphosis of Pathenice and after that they were all sate at table not forgetting the Shepherd Carmelin whom they made speak in spight of his teeth that he might pay his reckoning in good discourse but Lysis who could s of nothing but Charite engag'd the company on that subject and ask'd Philiris if he had ever seen that Shepherdess The question was impertinent enough because Philiris was but newly arrived into Brie and yet to see what Lysis would say he answered That he had seen that fair one as he past by standing at Orontes's door I am glad of that says Lysis for that is a sign she is not sick If she had continued sick still I should not so easily have been gotten abroad I should have kept my chamber as well as she out of conformy That I have come abroad while she was sick I have committed a fault of which I repent me But without jesting Shepherd Philiris is it then possible that thou hast seen her and dost not relate the strange astonishment thou wert then in did she not make thy eyes twinkle lest her great lustre might dazzle thee did she not make thee forget at least for one quarter of an hour the beauty of thy Basilia But without dissembling tell me hadst thou wash'd thy eyes that morning for to purifie them and take away the pollution which they had contracted from prophane objects so to make them worthy to contemplate that incomparable countenance Though Clarimond quarrel with my tears saies Philiris yet shall I not forbear speaking of them and assure you that it is with them that I ever purifie my eyes when I am absent from Basilia Doubt not but I have seen your Charite and that she hath put me into that admiration which is forc'd on us by all things incomparable Let me see thy eyes saies Lysis looking on him thou lyest not beloved Shepherd thou hast indeed seen that Shepherdess I observe in the apples of thy eyes certain little fires which proceed from hers and she hath also left there certain touches of her image There would have been much more had not her face been bound up which must have hindred thee to have a full sight of her Philiris said nothing to that for he knew not what to answer to that particular Lysis thought by that he granted Charite to be still bound up so that he was well content to be so too for he had not yet taken of his handkercher from off his left eye and he was of opinion it was rather an ornament to him then an inconvenience The End of the Seveneth Book THE Anti-Romance OR THE HISTORY Of the SHEPHERD LYSIS The Eighth Book WHen the Magitian and his guests had din'd they went their way into a little Thicket hard by the Castle where they found Orontes Florida Leonora Angelica Anselme and Montenor who had had notice that the assembly of the Shepherds was to be there Angelica presently acquainted Lysis that his Mistress was well whereat he was so joyfull that he knew not how well to give her thanks to his mind for bringing him so good news But to oblige him the more she sent for Charite who by her presence put him almost out of himself When he perceiv'd her face was not bound up he immediately pluck'd the handkerchief off his which was ty'd over one eye and cry'd out I am no longer sick since Charite is in health I must ever be conformable to her I knew well my eye ailed nothing as soon as ever she appear'd Now you are to know dear company that there is such a sympathy between her and me that I am not well but when she is so I would to God the resemblance were yet greater and that I could be chang'd into her 'T is a thing I passionately wish and endeavour to attain to 'T is the supreme degree of Love to be changed into the thing lov'd according to the opinion of the Philiosophers Now that this thought is come into my mind I value not my former metamorphosis Oh how much better is it to be chang'd into Charite then into a Tree But alas I cannot be changed into my Shepherdess if she also be not changed into me I must first soften her rigor and suffer incredible afflictions Do but imagine says Anselme that your wish is already effected and that though you seem to be a Shepherd that you are indeed the Shepherdess Charite chang'd into Lysis and that this Shepherdess here is the Shepherd Lysis chang'd into Charite But I know well enough I am not Charite replies the Shepherd for I reason in my self as Lysis was wont to do and I find in my self my former mind There 's your mistake fair Charite says Anselme to Lysis you are indeed fully and perfectly chang'd into that Shepherd so that you want nothing which he had Lysis hath undergone a reciprocal change now he seems to us to be Charite This subtilty pleases me though I suspect it to be false replies the Shepherd for though this change were real yet is it certain I ought to be nothing else then what I am Had this discourse been any while continued it would have gravell'd the Shepherds wit But these starts being over Hircan had a mind to some other diversion and when he had made them all sit down on the grass he spoke thus Knights and Ladies and you Shepherds and Shepherdesses Since we are so fortunately met here let us make good use of our time I think it convenient that those who have run through any remarkable adventures in their life relate the story of them to the rest there will be as much profit as pleasure in it Every one thought his advice very seasonable And though Fontenay and Philiris had in the morning related their stories yet they stood not to begin the relation again to those who had not heard them They said nothing which was not pleasant whether it were truth or falshood Fontenay set out his discourse with a many fresh thoughts as when he came to speak of the visit of Theodora he very naturally represented the transportation he was in He said he plac'd himself between his Looking-glass and her and that he endeavour'd to see Theodora with one eye and his own Figure with the other not knowing which of them he ought to love At the end of his story Lysis propos'd
again how that they ought to regret in that Theodora was not clad like a man to make their adventures more remarkable But insomuch as the more there are in a place together the more different opinions will there be so there were a many that contradicted him Anselme came neerest the mark For says he to him since you are troubled that Theodora was not disguis'd she should not have been in the same manner as Iphis who had only put on mans cloaths for fear to be ravish'd she should have been disguis'd out of the love she bore herself that so her history might have been more perfect and more relative to that of Fontenay there being a conformity of Adventures as is seen in Romances But it is to be known whether a woman that lov'd herself would be forc'd by her passion to go clad like a man and renounce her sex It 's to he thought she would never do it for Beauty hath its principal seat in womens faces and they will much the rather admire it in themselves then in mens countenances That 's contrary to Fontenay who was forc'd to seek that in a disguise which naturally he had not Lysis would have replied to this but the Ladies caused the discourse to be given over as relating to a matter that were too subtile and too amorous Upon that Philiris began to speak ravishing all by the naturalness of his conceptions Polidor and Meliantes were desir'd to honour the company with the like diversion and Hircan said to them I know well that your afflictions are so great that you will not of your selves be couragious enough to relate your own stories But here will I make appear the power of my Art and set your tongues at liberty to declare your past sufferings Speak without fear one after another As soon as Hircan had said so to them they put off their extravagant faces and put on milder looks as if really some charm had had its effect on them And Polidor seeing that Meliantes give him the honour to speak first began his story thus The History of POLIDOR THe fairest City in the Kingdom of Persia was the place of my birth Nor is it to be much admir'd if I speak French so well for my father whose name was Cleon was of this Country and had been taken with a Cousin of his call'd Luthydemus by some Pirats who had sold them to their King in whose attendance they were brought up and advanc'd Having learn'd of my father the language and customs of France and divers other perfections I was in hopes one day to become a great man with our Master But O unhappiness I fell in love with Rhodogina who is so cruel that she deserves to be the Queen of Hell 'T is true there are so many lillies and roses in her complexion that they have not elswhere to go for to adorn the portals of all the Temples it is as certain that her body is made up of pearls diamonds and threads of gold so that there falls nothing from her which is not enough to enrich the most insatiable Miser in the world but who is permitted to enjoy these treasures Her prisons are stronger then those of our King her attractions are so powerfull that she draws all to her and by their graspings if a coach stuck fast in the mire would draw it out at one pluck Her eyes have in them so strong a fire that one day looking through her window all the lead melted and the glass fell down to the ground Thence she cast her beams on a gutter that was over against her and the lead thereof being also melted fell upon a Gentleman that pass'd by and enter'd his head wherein if she did him any courtesie 't was that whereas his brains before were light now they were heavy enough And these are the strange qualities of Rhodogina which indeed she might employ well but perpetually does the worst that may be And whenever I went to see her I must have stood in a posture to run away lest I should have been imprison'd and annointed my self before with whites of eggs and Mallows-water for fear I should be burnt up by her When I had declared to her the love she had rais'd in my heart she nothing but laught at it and assured me she would never have any compassion on me but on certain conditions she would make with me In the first place having heard that a certain Courtier call'd Osthanes had a certain Ring that made him invisible she told me I must bring her it That I thought a hard task for what means is there to take away a thing from a man one sees not 'T was reported that Osthanes had the pleasure to go into the womens Stoves there to contemplate the fair Ladies stark naked and sometimes to enjoy them without being perceived by any body He would be in the Kings Cabinet when the most important affairs of State were in debate He filch'd up and down whatever was necessary for his entertainment yet was not punished for his felonies because he could not be taken in the fact and if they would have carried him to prison he would have vanish'd away like a spirit Yet I bethought me to cloath my self like an outlandish Merchant and take a little shop neer his house being somwhat in hope to get away from him what I desired I had a Chest wherein I had put some Knives with handles made of Remora's teeth a Fan of Phenix feathers and some other trifles But all about it I had so dispos'd certain small wyres wherein the hand that did but touch it was presently caught and secured Now my hope was that Osthanes would be caught there and that if he were he should give me his Ring to be let loose Having therefore given him notice that I had some rare merchandises to sell he told me he was sick and that till two dayes were over he could not come and see them But this was only that I might not suspect him of the intended knavery I much doubted his intentions so that I was so fearfull he might come into my shop that I kept always abroad though I had been assured he could make himself invisible when he pleas'd He came that very day to see my Chest and since it was not only necessary to have his Ring on his finger but that to blind the eyes of the world he must also put the Stone to his mouth he thought at first to put but one hand on my ware yet seeing himself alone his avarice counsell'd him to put them both That with the Ring to his sorrow was put out first for it was presently caught in the gin Osthanes not able to disengage his hand drew the Chest to him for to carry it away but that was well chain'd to the wall He bethought himself that if he were taken in that posture he should suffer some shamefull death so that he was so desperate as to lay
a rod he had and at length he with a loud and cleer voice cries out Fair Hamadryad fair Cherry-tree Nymph I conjure thee by Horta Goddess of the Gardens and by Pan God of the Fields immediately to appear here in a visible and delightfull form so that thou frighten no body Every one then look'd about not knowing what would happen and Hircan having iterated his conjuration three times there issued a monstrous shape of a Woman out of the thickest part of the Thicket She was coif'd with green moss her face was nothing but flat bark wherein there were holes two for the eyes and one for the mouth without any appearance of nose All her body was in the same manner cover'd with barks of tree which were dispos'd like the scales on a fishes back so that this Hamadryad causing them by her frisking to knock and beat together made no small noise By this stirring to and fro a piece of bark broke off and Hircan very carefully taking it up Be of good comfort says he to Polidor see here the Hamadryad grants your desire This wood I esteem very excellent for to obtain which I doubt not but your Mistress hath made you undertake this great journey When she hath it once she will make handles for knives with it or haply she will stamp it for to make a drug of it for some secret receipt Now you that are present consider well the Hamadryad and henceforth give credit to sacred mysteries The noseless Nymph danc'd all the while he said this and at last having taken a turn about the company she went away the same way she came leaving all much astonisht at the subtilty of Hircan It was a Servant-maid of the Nymph Lucida who was lately become the Shepherdess Amaryllis The Magician had caused her to be so disguis'd because Lysis had spoken to him of Clarimond's incredulity They had made her a Mask of Bark and a Gown of a many pieces of the same stuffe fastened together and Hircan having made sign to some of his people to make her be ready she came just in the nick Here was Lysis as prettily cheated as ever he was in his life and the Nymph being retired there was only one small scruple that troubled his mind I pray you tell me one thing says he to Hircan why hath this Hamadryad appeared now with such a rough face and gross body whereas when I was a Tree I saw her every night in a form fair and favourable enough That fault is only to be imputed to your eyes replies Hircan you were then a Demy-god of the Forrests but now you are a man and cannot see through the veils which cover the Deities Now that none of all that are here present may doubt of the greatness of my power I will restore to this Hamadryad her humane nature which she sometimes had nor indeed is it the will of Fate she should alwayes live within a tree Hircan having said this read somwhat in his book and then call'd O Hamadryad I command thee to become a Maid and that immediately there appear Amaryllis 's Maid in her ordinary cloaths Behold her that sometimes was an Hamadryad cries out Lysis I know her well enough again Oh how great is the power of Hircan You see answers the Magician that this Cherry-Nymph hath been very easie to transform she hath not been so obstinate as you who put me to so much trouble that I was forc'd to conjure the winds to come and bring you down I was afraid to lose any thing of my felicity by change of form replies Lysis you know it better then my self This discourse was interrupted by the arrival of the Nymph whom all called Lisetta When she was come neer Polidor he fell on his knees before her and humbly thank'd her for the wood she had bestowed on him She knew not how to return his complement and was busie to hearken to Lysis who ask'd Hircan if there were no means to restore their former shapes to the Cypress and the Apricock-Nymph He answer'd that Fate had ordain'd it otherwise but the reason was because the Youth that plaid on the Violin was gone from him and the other Hamadryad was gone with Synopa whom the evening before she waited for in the coach while that Nymph spoke to Lysis and Carmelin under the name of Parthenice and when she parted from them without bidding them farewell to shew the more indifferencie in the vexation she was then in Carmelin in this mean time was perpetually pulling his Master by the sleeve which the other took no notice of but at last being forc'd to turn his head he ask'd him what he would have My master says he to him Methinks this Lisetta is as good as another tell me whether it will be convenient for me to fall in love with her Ha! inconstant wretch replies Lysis I see thou wouldst be perpetually agitated among the divers sighings of the Nymphs like a leaf by the breathings of the winds Know that Fidelity honours men with eternal renown and that thou ought'st to love thy Parthenice to the death if thou desirest to be recommended to Posterity Carmelin was much troubled at this answer for he could not be content to have a stone for his Mistress whose kisses were cold and rough Yet had he not the leisure to reply because Philiris came and told him he must do what his master commanded him And in the mean time Lysis viewing all the company one after another spoke to them to this purpose As for Orontes Florida and Leonora who have already gone through the ardors of youth they are not oblig'd to relate their Loves they are here only to judge of ours As for Anselme and Angelica I know somwhat of their affairs Fontenay Philiris Polidor and Meliantes have already related their stories I know well enough that of Lisetta otherwise called the Cherry-Nymph Hircan's life is well known Clarimond hath nothing worth the telling us Therefore there remains none but the Shepherdess Amaryllis that can entertain the company We must enrteat her to let us have her story I believe there must be very brave things in it for having the countenance like that of Lucida divers besides my self both Gods and men might have taken her for that Nymph Now 't is certain these mistakes cause strange adventures as may be observ'd if it be considered what misfortunes Lydamon suffer'd being taken for Lydias Fair Amaryllis says Orontes will you satisfie our desires I humbly beseech you and the rest of this honorable company to excuse me reply'd she for I have made a vow never to discover my Loves till they are more fortunate and that I therein effectuate my expectations If my Shepherd should turn his love from me I should be too much troubled it should be known I ever bore him any affection There 's nothing more insupportable then disdain and so much the more when it is publike We must not take away
proposed much like those I sometime saw at Paris Some Schollers shall maintain them others shall dispute against them both for the exercise of their parts and that truth may issue out of these altercations as a spark of fire from the collision of two flints As for example there shall be those that shall in the first place maintain that Absence bring more satisfaction to Lovers then presence Secondly That it is better to see a Wench that one loves dead if one be reciprocally loved by her then to see her married to another and not be loved by her Thirdly That the affection is greater after enjoyment then before it In the fourth place That it is better for one to enjoy his Shepherdess twice a week with all the torments and disquiets in the world then to enjoy her fifteen days together in one year with all freedom and not under go any hardship to have her In the fifth place That the remembrance of any thing that is good is a greater pleasure then the good self In the sixth place That it were better for one never to enjoy his Mistress then to do it on an infallible condition that another should have the enjoyment of her also though he were your dearest friend And in the seventh place That the jealousie of a Lover who never knew any enjoyment is stronger and more violent then that of a husband who enjoys every day A man may advance a many other as subtil propositions and by such disputations shall every one be fully instructed On the days when this diversion is not to be had the time shall be spent in singing making of verses dancing and divers other Pastoral sports This indeed is a very pleasant and much desirable way of life saies Menelas but since we shall have no offices or professions among us it is most certain we shall get nothing and if so I know not how the family shall be maintain'd and the taxes paid Our condition is noble and free and consequently exempted from all impositions replies Lysis trouble not your self as to that As for matter of livelihood we shall want nothing There is no bird so inconsiderable but findes his dinner though he have neither store-house nor fee-farm rent heaven provides for all the creatures in the world 'T is very certain you cannot want your entertainment since you can restore the golden age says Clarimond In that first age of the world all the rivers were not milk and all the trees bore not fruit of Lotos as many fools have imagin'd Nature brought forth nothing but what it does now and that not so abundantly then because nothing was advanc'd by cultivation but men were content with what they could finde and to make a true relation of the felicity of that time it must be confess'd that men fed on Acorns as well as the swine and drank out of the river as all other creatures did They had no coverture but their skin or haply some garment of leaves The earth was their Table and their Bed the grass their Carpet the bushes their Curtains and the caves their retreats And thus it is most certain the first men lived so unreasonable a thing it is to conceive they liv'd in a golden Age since gold was not yet discover'd Let it be considered whether their life was not rather brutish then humane and if they are not mad men which grieve for it and that despise ours whereof the ornament and civility cannot be over commended You have much reason to believe you will easily finde your livelihood if you regulate your self to that ancient manner of life for indeed Lysis you shall not be deny'd such a nourishment as we allow beasts but what you do is as if the Law-makers were not yet come into the world to make men leave the forrests and rocks and to perswade them to live in community in Cities I believe there will be very few shall envy you for my part I shall only bemoan you to see you become savage for if you will needs restore your golden age you must go naked as an American and at the best be no better hous'd then with a few turfs as your beggars on the high-way who sell wands to Travellers I do not believe the ancients entertain'd themselves as thou sayest reply'd Lysis but though it were so know that I will imitate onely what is good in their life I intend also to joyn to it the happiness of this last age wherein all the curiosities in the world have been invented It shall suffice me to live in the innocency and freedom of the first age and it may be thou wilt be of my opinion when thou shalt have tasted the pleasures which I have imagin'd we shall not envy any nor be envied by any Of all the passions there is only Love shall possess us And if sometimes we shall be guilty of any hatred we shall exercise it only against the wolves which are in hostility against our Shepherdry What pleasure will it be to love Shepherdesses whose affection will be mutual and will freely discover it self when respect shall not cause reservedness and breed in their mindes what shall torment them We shall finde that those fair ones will be neither Cockneys nor Courtizans and that the unfaithfulness of Lovers will not teach them to carry two hearts in one breast As concerning divine worship and the sciences which we shall study I have spoken to that point already but as for our ordinary recreations I have fancied to my self most excellent ones Those of better quality among us shall act a Comedy every day The subject shall be taken out of some piece of ancient Poetry and the parts being assign'd to those who already know the story by heart they shall only be told the cast of the Scenes and then they must compose as it were on a sudden what they have to say Besides I have found out an incomparable kinde of stage I have seen your Players at Burgundy-house I have seen some plays in the Colleges but all was but fiction There was a sky of Canvas a rock of Parport and in all things the painting cheated our eyes but I will have it far otherwise our plays shall be acted in the open field and our stage shall be the great Theatre of nature we 'll have no heaven but the true heaven if a Shepherd be to issue out of a Thicket he shall do it out of a true thicket if he must drink at a spring he shall drink at one indeed and so all things being naturally represented men will believe they see the true history so that the actors being thereby animated themselves will put on the passions of those parts which are assig'd them and the spectators be as much pleas'd as astonish'd at it And all this I do not any thing doubt of when I consider that when ever I was at any play at Paris though they were not so natural and lively as ours
I have supplanted my sisters to obtain this my Ambassage to thee for having all left our Country to come and see thee 't was no mean contention for the honour to speak to thee first Fair Nymph replies Lysis I know not in what words to thank your Bacchus for all his favours for how can I satisfie a God since I do not think my self in a capacity to recompence you who are but his Waiters or his Priestesses However be pleased to receive my good will and excuse my performances This discourse ended one of the Country fellows that led the Waggon came and brought a bottle of sweet Wine for the Company without any other complement then saying Behold what Bacchus hath sent you He had but little to say and yet he delivered it so unhandsomly that all the company laught at it That hindred not the Ladies from getting into the Coach again and follow Bacchus his Chariot which began to put forward with all the Brigade Lysis was the most taken at this sight and had he not heard all conclude it was Carmelin that rid in the Waggon he would have thought it had been Bacchus himself according to the first imagination he conceived of things which was that of taking all fictions for truths Carmelin indeed was well enough made for a Bacchus save that he had a little too much beard for his nose was as red as a rose and his cheeks were no less Nor did his Master think him ill accommodated which made him say This is indeed an excellent piece of Gallantry See how Carmelin is become a brave person I am afraid he 'll go beyond me Consider how knowing he is in matter of Metamorphesis and the Divinities I am almost of belief he hath been changed into that God which makes the Vine flourish If it have been for so excellent a designe as this that he hath been absent this last night I confess he hath had reason to do so While Lysis spoke thus all the equipage of the God Bacchus went in at Oronte's the great Gate being opened to let in the Waggon The noise which the Gatherers made with their singing made Angelica look out at the window As soon as she perceiv'd this great pomp she gave notice to her mother and her aunt who with Orontes came presently down and thereupon Amaryllis and her companions presented them with Grapes as presents from the God They gave them also sweet Wine for which they returned them infinite thanks and spoke much in the praise of Amaryllis who they were beholding to for this conceited invention Amaryllis perceiving that Leonora and Angelica were pleasant enough in their humours quitted all her reservedness and gravity before them and answered among the Gatherers to Carmelins Songs Awhile after their arrival four Gentlemen husbands and fathers to the Gentlewomen that were with Amaryllis being come another way on horseback came and had their part of the Vintage-recreation About the same time Hircan Lysis and the rest who came softly after entred the place so that Orontes had by that time a considerable Assembly at his house Have we not some noble designe in hand saies Amaryllis I have this morning gathered all the Grapes in my Close there being not many Vines and this afternoon I bring my Gatherers in triumph You make it appear that you have read the Dyonisiacks sayes Orontes you are the most knowing Shepherdess that ever was Yet there 's somewhat wanting in this triumph of Bacchus sayes Lysis you have neither Fawns nor Satyrs and they are ever of attendance to this God These women also whom you have brought with you have been too modest to be the Priestesses of Bacchus they should have had the Javeline a Timbrell or Cymbals in their hands and they should have danced most furiously and vehemently Content your self with what is done without thinking of reforming us replies Amaryllis all those I brought with me are of my neighbourhood where never were celebrated the Feasts of Bacchus another time we 'll do better After this discourse Carmelin was taken down from his Chariot and all the company went into Orontes's Hall where was presented the Collation Upon that Anselme and Montenor come in they were soon told they were come too late to see the greatest piece of mirth in the world and they described to them the preparation of the Bacchanals Montenor was sorry he had staid so long but Anselme thought he was there soon enough since he found Angelica there When he was at any distance from her he spoke to her by his amorous looks and made it appear how impertinently the Poets make Loves without eyes for how could one that were blind teach us the use and advantage of Looks While this Lover was satisfied thus Hircan who knew that Amaryllis had not undertaken this gallantry but for his sake took it for such an expression of her affection as pleased him extreamly so that it inflamed him more and more towards her and his discourses to her were the most pleasant he could think on As for Lysis who was not then so much taken up with his Loves but he could attend other things that presented themselves he told Carmelin that he wondred not much he had left him and that he conceived it was the affection he bore Lisetta had forced him to that escape I am a conscientious man saies Carmelin 't is true I love that wench yet I had no designe to lodge at Amyrillis's had I not been kept there It shall be seen what the Gods will decree upon thy inconstancy saies Lisis hadst thou still loved the rock Parthenice she might haply have recovered her former shape and conscious of the obligation would have bestowed her self on thee But let 's talk of somewhat else this pleases thee not Give notice to all that are here that they hear me Gentlemen and Shepherds cries out Carmelin and you Gentlewomen and Shepherdesses be pleased to hearken to my Master Gracious presence saies Lysis the Triumph of Bacchus puts me in mind that it were fit there should be order taken I might ride in Triumph too I have overcome Gyants and Monsters I have accomplished an incomparable adventure 't is for this that I desire to triumph riding in a Warlike Chariot in my Heroical accoutrements with my Crown of Lawrel on my head as I now have it This Chariot shall be drawn by four white horses there shall Souldiers march orderly before me carrying Pictures wherein shall be represented divers things In one shall be seen the flying Horses in another the enchanted Castle and so of other things that make up the History but since I cannot have those I have overcome neither dead nor alive there shall be some sturdy rusticks to represent them and shall be fastned with iron Chains behind the Chariot as if they were my slaves There shall be the Conqueror Anarimander the two Gyants the hulchback'd Souldiers and after that shall come the Effigies of the Dragon
wherein the Meteors are formed I have bin in places blacker then the abode of Pluto I have fought with Gyants so high as that they might have scal'd heaven without Ladders and with crump-back'd and breasted fellows who seemed to be made to disgrace nature I overcame also a Dragon which rose up out of the foam of the Serpent Python which was killed by Phoebus And these are my principal adventures which I am very glad I have had the occasion to relate both that you may believe aud to rub Philiris's memory who hath undertaken to dispose them into a Book When it is perfected you will find these things better described and more adorn'd for being to speak to you in haste I have not had the leasure to scrue my self up to any imbellishments of discourse Lysis having spoken thus Adrian was quite beside himself to find that what he said answered to what the other Shepherds had told him He knew not what to think of it and yet he told his Cousin that he did not half understand his language because his terms were extreamly Poetical He thereupon takes Carmelin aside and there being no other of whom to enquire the truth of what he desired said to him I see thou hast the countenance of an honest fellow and therefore am I glad my Cousin hath entertained thee for he must have one to help him in a place which is not his native Countrey I will do any thing lies in my power for thy preferment thou shalt in requital only tell me whether all thy Master hath related be true or no I shall tell you no more then I know replies Carmelin as concerning his transformation into a Tree 't was not so much as he thought it for his face could be seen but for the Divinities which visited him to pass away the time I have known by experience but too much of the certainty thereof as a punishment of my incredulity As for our Combats with Monsters they are as true as that I am Carmelin though we got the victory yet did we receive good blowes but I cannot shew you any marks to verifie what I say for Hircan had made us both as he cals it invulnerable that is to say that we could not be wounded Carmelin having said thus Adrian turned to the rest and said to them this honest man doth also confirm what his Master told me but though I should believe all more firmly then I do yet it but obliges me the more to take him with me to the good City of Paris for there 's not so much danger there nor any Monsters to fight with If any one have done you wrong there 's justice to do you right and if a Witch should change one thing into another she may be burnt in the Greve What simplicities do you speak good man replies Meliantes if your Cousin hath run any danger for me he hath done the greatest work of charity in the world and besides that the Gods will reward him he hath gotten eternal renown thereby such a reputation as his cannot be too dear bought That he hath undergone a Metamorphosis in this Country and suffered much affliction it hath been on occasion so noble that there 's not any but could have wished the same fortune 'T is for love that he sighs 't is for love that he weeps and which is yet more remarkable 't is for the love of the fair Charite would you forbid him so noble a passion would you put off humanity to commit such a signal act of brutality Since you have married the Gentlewoman your wife is it to be questioned whether you love her If it be so would you forbid another man that you could not be without your self But is it in your power or any mans in the world to hinder Lysis to love since Nature hath furnished us with the precepts thereof from our infancy All this is well and good saies Adrian I know well that as one hand washes the other and both the face so the husband and the wife help one another mutually and may afterward do good to their whole race and this is the reason why I married and I should not be sorry if my cousin were so too nor consequently can I find fault with him for being in love but there are many things to be wished in his person before we entertain any thoughts of that business We have it from Plutarch that Lycurgus put a note of Infamy on those that did not marry saies Carmelin They durst not appear at the publick Festivities and in mid-winter they were forced to dance naked singing a certain Song made in abuse of themselves Besides all this when they were old the younger sort of people went before them and did them no respect Thus you see how the ancients detested Coelibate and desired nothing so much as to propagate man who is the King of all the other creatures Moreover happy marriages make us enjoy on earth the felicity of heaven T is all the comfort we have against the miseries of this life There is no affliction so grievous which the hearts of a husband and a wife joyn'd together cannot support Thus the wife of Mithridates having caused her hair to be cut off bore arms as well as he which comforted him infinitely Carmelin having ended his discourse scratch'd his head a little as if he would have made somewhat more come out by the stirring it received from his nails This start of Carmelin is not to be wondred at saies Philiris we know he hath his common places as a Sergeant of a Company his Halbards If all his ancient Lectures came but into his mind there 's no Subject on which he is not able to entertain us Truly saies Carmelin when I heard Marriage spoken of I could not but out with what was at my tongues end There 's somewhat else in the wind saies Meliantes questionless thou hast a great mind to be married and wouldst fain have us find out a wife for thee But not to quit the discourse we were in before let 's speak to Adrian We desire him to tell us what fault he finds in his Cousin He wants many things replies Adrian especially that he knows neither Trade nor Traffick to get his living by How shall he maintain a wife and children what quality shall he be of in the world He will be slighted every where and taken for an idle person 'T is true saies Carmelin that since man sinned God hath condemned him to get his bread in the sweat of his brows 't is said that he that doth not labor shal not eat and that to do nothing is to do ill so Solomon sends the idle person to school to the Ant. Hold thou thy peace Carmelin saies Lysis to him no body asks thee any thing Thou wilt anon speak more against me then thou canst for me for thou powrest out thy sentences as they come without any consideration Be not thou among those that
were joyned to her but then should I not love her neither and thus would I reason I would say that in such a condition I could neither receive nor return any thing of love Let every thing love what 's like it let stones be in love with stones grass with grass plants with plants and let the vine if it will clime up an elme I have often heard it said that this is done by a certain sympathy of nature whose designe is to joyn all things together But it makes for me whatever my Master saies I should sin against nature if I should not love what were of my own species It signifies much indeed that Lysis tels me that Ivie scales the walls to shew it loves stones and that I should do so too as having some relation to the Ivie since I represented Bacchus This was the subject of our discourse this morning where we were alone but my full and final answer was that I was a man and could eat and drink and not Ivie good for nothing but to clap on issues He thereupon told me that to punish my contempt of the Ivie the Gods would change me into that plant and that he thought the part I plaid in the pastimes of the Vintage was a great presage thereof since I was then compassed about with branches which I should one day really bear At last quoth he 't is the most convenient Metamorphosis for thee and quoth he thou art to hope no less I have given over quoth he the designe of changing thee into a Fountain as I once thought quoth he when I thought it fit thou shouldst water the bottom of the beloved rock It will be more proper quoth he that thou be Ivie that quoth he thou maist climb up the rock of Parthenice and embrace it quoth he with thy branches Your discourse indeed is not amiss I must confess saies Amaryllis interrupting him but I must tell you one thing if you did not use that quoth he so often you would do better I have often heard you use that kind of expression which is not good for that repetition is superfluous but yet I would not tell you so much till now that we are alone I am obliged to you for being so tender as to the ornament of my language replies Carmelin for it is a signe you will shew me favour in things of more importance but I must tell you it is not without reason that I repeat the word quoth he so often for 't is to let you know that it was not I but my Master said such a thing if I durst I would not close up every period but second every word with it that you may not be mistaken and know that all I tell you is by way of allegation I should be very sorry you should think I my self said that it was convenient for me to be metamorphosed into Ivie Amaryllis laught at this very heartily and confessed that Carmelin's excuse was extream pleasant and thought that no other body could have had the wit to imagin such a one though many in their relations used the like repetition and that as frequently However she told him that if he was troubled to make appear that his Masters discourses were not his it signified he did not esteem him much You 'll pardon me there saies Carmelin but I must tell you freely that my Master speaks many things which a man must not believe which proceeds from that disturbance of mind he is in by reason of his love and in this he will not contradict me for it were not for his credit Since you will not believe him saies Amaryllis what is your designe then 'T is only that I dare not declare my self lest I should be thought unconstant reply'd Carmelin as for your part Madam you know partly what I would say I would to God I had seen Lisetta before Parthenice I say no more You would tell me saies Amaryllis that if you had fallen in love with Lisetta before Parthenice you should have been sent to the former which you would have been glad of because she were the better company I have found out an expedient in this business of yours for Hircan having related to me all your adventures told me how that one night being with Lysis while he was a Tree there was a Nymph called Lucida who said that you should have for Mistress the greater of the Hamadriads which were in the Company She that was spoken of was Lisetta who is now restored to her former shape Now it must be said that you have been in love with her ever since that time and that all the hurt you have said of her since was only to shew how far you were sensible of the smart of your whipping Carmelin was almost out of himself at this good councel which he was the gladder to receive from Amaryllis because 't was she had been the Fountain Lucida She was thanked with almost as many conges as words whereupon Carmelin left her and returned to his Master to whom he said that he had conceal'd a great secret from him out of a certain fearfullness but that he could hide it no longer Lysis told him he should be glad to hear it so that Carmelin acquainted him that he had been in love with Lisetta since the time she was an Hamadryad and that he had obeyed the command he had received from Lucida to love her Why didst thou not tell me so replies Lysis why didst thou profess love to Parthenice committing an inconstancy and an infidelity wherein I confirmed thee as not knowing thou hadst before lost thy liberty I did no further inform my self because I thought thou hadst had it still for when I spoke to thee of Synopa Lucida Lisetta and her companion the Apricock-tree-Nymph thou saidst they were all witches and that thou wouldst avoid their assemblies as those of the Sabat I beg your pardon for these faults saies Carmelin my mind was then full of bad opinions I believe it and pardon thee saies Lysis it was easily judged that thou never hadst but a feigned passion for Parthenice since thou didst so soon forsake her and didst disclaim her assoon as ever that misfortune of losing her proper from hapned to her 'T is said that he who leaves off loving never lov'd I did much suspect that there was some reason for thy aversion to that poor Rock Let 's think on 't no more Carmelin fate hath decreed that thou love Lisetta Thou art now the happiest among the happiest Lovers in the world thou livest in the same place with thy Mistress thou canst speak to her at any time or thou maist see her at least O how would far more illustrious Shepherds then thou art wish such an adventure nay even the disgras'd and disfavour'd shepherd Lysis who must die anon because he cannot enjoy that happiness Alass my tongue discover no more lest you be over-heard of some who are strangers to what hath been
as well as the rest and that he would not have his men think themselves his fellows because he was neither waiting-man nor groom but might be rank'd among Gentlemen dependants as being received into an association of Shepherdry with Lysis This troubled the servants extreamly but for the present there was no further tumult Adrian and Pernella sate at Hircans Table and Fontenay who still plaid the discontented person After a short walk in the Garden Lysis and Carmelin were dismissed to bed and for Adrian and his wife they might when they pleas'd have done the like Adrian had all supper time observed whether Fontenay did not out of affection drink out of the same glass as Pernella or trod not on her foot to appoint the time He had all the while been in she like disquiets such was his jealousie and as they walked he was almost resolved to tye her to a lethern girdle he wore on his doublet lest any body might take her away from him Having therefore seen her a bed in the chamber assigned them he searcht under the bed and on the bed-stead nay under the very feather bed and mat behind it and in the chimney to see if some body were not hidden there Finding nothing he made fast the dore with a bar and besides put a Cupboard against it and yet he did not think himself safe enough as fearing there might be some body locked up in a great chest which was near the window who might force his wife for he was not only jealous of Fontenay but of all the other Shepherds At last finding the Chest emptie he laid himself by Pernella's side He was no sooner a bed but Fontenay who was resolved to make what sport he could with him comes to the dore and sings a Court-air with a languishing voice as if he had been ready to dye for love Hircan helped him with his Lute and a while after the other Shepherds and Amaryllis desirous to share in the sport made an excellent consort with them They sung all manner of songs and that in such abundance that Adrian and Pernella were almost stunn'd with the noise When they had given over Fontenay fetch'd three or four sighes and made this complaint Must then another be master of her whom I cannot be servant to Must another body enjoy my soul Ah my Fairest why do you slight me There is such a Nymph of Diana that loves me better then her Mistress There are those that run after me and offer me all that I offer you but I reserve my self for you alone If you will grant me nothing yet refuse not my heart which I present unto you Do me the favour to accept it and assure me only by one word of your mouth that you do it Let your fair lips whose motion is the rest of the ear neatly pronounce what they ought to say to me Though you lose nothing thereby yet I shall think my self a great gainer The Shepherd Fontenay uttered a many other amorous discourses and sometimes sung with the rest Adrian in the mean time swore he would be gone the next day though he left Lysis behind him and that he would sue for reparation for the affronts done him The more he spoke the greater noise did they make that it might encrease his madness that he was not heard This diversion having lasted above an hour the company of Musitians permitted him to sleep The good mans ears was so stunn'd that he thought he should be deaf as he had been before however these disquiets were not so great but they suffered him to take some rest Being gotten up the next day as he came down to see if there were anymeans to be gone Carmelin comes out of his masters chamber and told the other Shepherds that he was very sick Fontenay and his companions went thither immediately and Adrian with them but his wife was not with him for he had locked her in the chamber while she was a dressing A while after Hircan comes in and Lysis seeing all that company sate up in his bed and began this discourse The Gods have at length had compassion on me and delivered me out of Adrians tyrannie See they have sent me a sickness which I shall never recover He that having sometime been a tree ought to have hard flesh He who hath been invulnerable who hath quelled so many Monsters and he lastly who thought himself so reserved to restore the earth to its first felicitie behold he is beaten down by the first approaches of a feaver that have assaulted him Fear not that sayes Hircan be of good courage what ails you will you have any thing to breakfast I have an extreme head-ach replyes Lysis but I think that when I have drunk a little wine I shall be able to suffer my pain more patiently and more chearfully 'T was hereupon considered whether any wine should be given him for Adrian said that if it were a feaver it would encrease it but Hircan having felt his pulse said he had yet no feaver and that he might have what he desired Carmelin had wine ready in a little bottle he brought him a glass of it Lysis drank it off so hastily as if he avoided the tasting of it and when he had done he made such wry faces as if it had been physick and after that he continued his discourse thus My dear friends be not amazed that I have with some trouble taken down this wine though I gave it no long time to stay in my palate it is because it hath such a lewd taste that if all the drink in the world were such you would dye for thirst rather then taste any 'T is not but that the Territorie of Brie is favourable enough to the wines for the wines of this Country is in its nature good but it is because I have made it otherwise on purpose and having a design to dye I put in the last night a certain poison which I had carryed about me a long time to make use of as I have when any occasion should present it self And if you desire to know more particularly why I would at this present dispatch my self it is not only to avoid going to Paris with Adrian but also to obey the command of my Mistress When I asked her a while since what Laws I should observe under her Empire she answered me roughly I command you not to obey me any more I had much adoe to understand this command and therefore proposed the difficultie of it to Carmelin and Clarimond All I could gather from their answer was that I should not obey Charite in that command which charged me not to obey her and contradicted it self and that I was only to regard her former commands taking this to signifie nothing This subtle explication had some appearance of truth and I was satisfied with it for wantof a better But it being not in my power to speak with Charite to have one from her
soul of a Lover whose fire is as pure and as clear as the Sun it must be plunged into those frozen Rivers wherein we quench the flames of Ambition Avarice and other passions Let it not be sent thither replies Aeacus it deserves far otherwise we were unjust if we did it You have not maturely considered the business Minos was of the same opinion who having a long time consulted with his brethren it was ordered I should be conveyed to the Elysian fields I saw as I passed by Tartarus where the sinfull are so tormented that their cryes are heard a league off Tantalus is there Ixion is also there and a many others that have offended the Gods After I had travelled a great way with a spirit that was my guide I saw the aire grew by little and little more clear and in a moment I found my self in a Countrey which had light enough to discover the excellent things that were in it There was a Medow cheequered with an infinity of flowers which could not be seen otherwise then by travelling over all the Countrys of the world at the end of that there was a Grove which had as many different trees and there I met with a many happy souls who began to receive me with complements for the satisfaction they found in my company I had not left my civility behind me here so that I answered them in as courteous expressions They were all clad in white and their ordinary recreation was to recite Verses to play on the Lute or the Gitarre and not at Cards nor Dice which was the diversion of evil spirits As they were shewing me all their pleasures it came into my mind to ask them why we were called by no other name then Souls and why we were put in the feminine gender since divers among us had been sometimes men There was one going to answer me when I perceived Love hovering over my head who took me in his arms and carryed me so swiftly through the air that the greatness of the agitation soon â—ulled me asleep so that I found my self in this place ere I thought on 't Lysis having thus ended his discourse which was a knot of lyes invented on the sudden all admir'd the fruitfulness of his conceptions Philiris told him that as to the doubt he was in that we were but souls only after our death 〈◊〉 was not because were were women rather then men but that not being of one sex more then another we had been called by a name used in the feminine gender without any designe Be it as it will saies Lysis but I am glad that my soul is feminine for then it shall be of the same sex as the object of its love since it is the only desire of the Lover to be changed into the thing loved See fair Charite how great the affection I bear you is continued he nay when I was in the other world I had no other regret but that I had left this too soon and had not staid to see you that you might not have doubted but that you were the cause of my death But fate hath laid this obligation on me that if I dyed not in your presence it was in your presence that I was raised up again Charite knew not what answer to make to these fine words so that when she perceived Hircan loosen his hold somewhat she made but one stride of the chamber into the gallery and as she went down being followed by no body she considered of her returning to Orontes's to avoid further abuse Adrian in the mean time was extremely comforced at the arrival of those who were come in last who seemed to him to be of more staid minds then the Shepherds He therefore approaches his Cousin and asked him whether he would not return to Paris whereat the Shepheard was extreamely troubled imagining his dissimulation had been all to no purpose and had not lasted long enough to send away that troublesome Guardian As he was studying what to answer Hircan prevented him saying he was too importunate in disturbing a poor man who was but newly returned to life and that it was sufficient if Lysis had so much strength as to get up and walk about the house This check roughly delivered made Adrian retire and Hircan having promis'd Lysis on his word that his Cousin should not dispose of him as he pleased entreated him to rise and come to dinner with the company He was at that time in so good an humour that he suffered Carmelin to help him put on his cloaths Hircan had retained to dine with him all that were in the house As they were ready to sit down Lysis was like to make an ill meal of it because he saw not Charite whom he had sought all over the house He thought the expressions of Love he had made to her were come to nothing but Angelica having over-heard some of her complaints would give him some comfort making him believe that the reason he found not Charite there was not because that she had left him out of disdain but that Leonora had sent her to Orontes's about some business On the other side Adrian who imagined his Cousin would be no better then he was before had not quitted his desire to carry him away and his recourse was to Anselm though he had quarrelled with him but a little before He asked if he might not be permitted to be gone to which Anselm replyed if you are in such hast you may go your wayes presently but as for Lysis I promise you that as I brought him hither so I will bring him hence Within 15 dayes at farthest I must be at Paris there being some occasions that call me thither It is not so long that there can happen any great alterations in your Cousins mind that you should much fear Adrian was loath to subscribe to this but Clarimond interposing advised him to accept what was proposed He was forced to it out of the good opinion he had of that Gentlemans faithfulness and sinceritie However since it was too late to get to Paris that night he deferred his journey till the next day and Hircan being acquainted with his resolution made him very welcom because he gave him that further time to make sport with Lysis While all this was working Carmelin knew not whether he ought to be merry or sad As soon as his Master was gotten up he went to see Lysetta to whom he had not proffered his service since he had Lysis's permission His Masters death had taken away all such thoughts The first proposition he made thereof to her she only laughed at him for his pains so that he was very ill satisfied The worst on 't was that he durst not declare it to Lysis because he would have given him no other advice then to play the mad Lover like Fontenay He could not sing to entertain her with Serenades and could play upon no other Instrument then a Flute
was Adrian who taking his opportunity to speak said to him Sir you have done wonders in your speech methinks your adversary made not so good a plea as you and therefore I am very sorry you have not received that satisfaction you desired For my part I have ever born a great hatred to these ridiculous Romances There is some injustice done me saies Clarimond but I hope I shall anon recover what I have now lost Anselme would not at one blow dash the common opinion though he was oblig'd to condemn it and as for him who hath spoken against me I am sure he did it only to exercise his wit and that his heart hath ever thought contrary to what his tongue hath spoken 'T is the same case as that of your Counsellors who to get money or reputation entertain and maintain all the causes that come to them be they ever so bad I deny not but Philiris hath alledg'd very strong reasons against mine but to what purpose are they since they only shew the subtilty of his wit and not the innocency of those he hath vindicated They themselves had never consider'd of maintaining their works by any such considerations as his for if they had had any such they would not have done their reputation that injury as to have conceal'd them Lysis having over-heard this discourse turns to Clarimond Dost thou think thou speakest truth in this saies he to him for my part I must confess that though thou hast spoken against what I lov'd yet had I a greater esteem of thy eloquence then I had ever but when I heard Philiris the case was altered And I assure you notwithstanding all this replies Clarimond that you will finde Philiris anon of another opinion then what he held That will be a strange blow indeed saies Lysis with a smile Carmelin by chance observing Lisetta near him who was come to whisper somewhat in her Mistresses ear would needs hold her by the sleeve which Lysis perceiving said to Amaryllis that their loves should not be drawn out any further but a happy issue put to them Lisetta presently got away and Amaryllis answered for her that she thought her self very happy to be married to Carmelin but the question was whether he had means enough to maintain her He hath ever told me he was nothing in debt replies Lysis and therefore I think him rich What 's more he 's willing enough to work and by that means he may in time come to have a good flock of sheep As for his vertues I pass my word for him and if you will clap up an agreement Love shall be the Notary and shall draw up the contract and keep the copies of it Amaryllis told him it were better to delay it a little that the two Lovers might try whether their conditions were such as would agree together Clarimond upon this discourse went aside to speak with Hircan who was gone into a study at the end of the Hall and all the counterfeit Shepherds with him Dear friends said he to them we have taken our pleasure sufficiently of Lysis His follies would henceforth be rather troublesome to us then delightful if we should suffer him to continue in them besides it is some touch to conscience to entertain a man still in those extravagances which are repugnant to reason You are a great Orator replies Meliantes you would teach us the precepts of charity which we know as well as your self Why may we not yet a while enjoy the pleasant conversation of Lysis If he were possessed with any hurtful folly you had reason to be so ready to restore him His imaginations never carried him to do mischief to any man If he does not hurt 't is certain he does no good saies Clarimond and wheaeas his minde is capable of great things if it were well guided he is now in such a decay of spirits that if he go on a while longer it may be desperate to restore him If you do not consider this represent to your selves that if you were resolved to make further sport with this poor Shepherd you cannot continue it much longer for Adrian or Anselme will carry him away to Paris 'T is there we would have him replies Meliantes 't will be good sport to govern him in great companies 'T were a pitty so famous a place should want this recreation That will never be saies Clarimond for assoon as he were there they would chain him up lest he should run up and down the streets and disgrace his friends Suppose him now upon his departure and learn in time to quit that satisfaction you must some time be depriv'd of Consider that there will be no less pleasure to restore Lysis to his wits then there would be to continue him in his madness as you desire Hircan was of the same opinion and Philiris too so that they soon brought their companions to the same point They then thought it a very good work to restore their Shepherd to himself again and the hopes they had to do it were not small when they represented to themselves that Lysis had good natural faculties which he could not but discover in his greatest extravagances His discourses and his inventions amaz'd all the world and if his errors had not hindred him from employing his subtilty in good things he had never done any thing discommendable While they were in this discourse a serving man came and told Hircan that the Hermit was at the door for an alms They call'd him by no other name because there was no other Hermit thereabouts and it was the same that Lysis had meâ— some time before Hircan having given order he should come up the Shepherd presently call'd him to minde and went and saluted him with a great deal of complement I am very glad my Cousin is acquainted with you saies Adrian to the Hermit I should heartily wish you would make him walk in the way of vertue I doubt not but he is very well given thereto replies the Hermit he was almost perswaded to enter into that contemplative way of life that I follow but I believe all the hurt that 's in him is that he is still in love I am so and shall be eternally saies Lysis in a loud Tone Charite is she that I love my Cousin hath seen her all the Shepherds know her the Birds the Trees the Rocks and the Fountains are not ignorant who she is for when I complain of my misery every thing even to that which hath no soul assumes one to hearken to me Provided your love aims not but at a faithful marriage saies the Hermit I shall never be among those that will blame you for marriage was instituted by our Saviour who after the creation of the world bestow'd Eve on Adam and St. Paul saies It is better to marry then to burn but away with sinful concupiscence if so be your soul be stain'd with it The waters of the clearest springs are not more
not be ungratefull to rip up so much ancient sottishness They had Dryads whom I take to be Nymphs of Forrests Hamadryads were such men as were chang'd into Trees the Nayads were the Nymphs that presided over the Waters and were such as had been chang'd into Fountains the Napaeae are the Nymphs of the Flowers the Oreades of the Mountains and the Nereides of the Sea I do not tell you what part of Brie Lysis was in nor where the River Morin begins 't is an humour of Ronsard's to make a long comment on every proper name which I will not imitate As for the Fable of Morin I maintain it to be much more ingenious then any thing of Ovid's or any other Poet. Those things which we bring in under the name of Histories are Fables Among the Greeks the word Fable was restrain'd to those relations that concerned the Gods History to the affairs of men But because a Fable signifies only a narration and that what they said of their Gods was false it is come to pass that a Fable signifies that which is false As for the Stories of Synopa and Lucida and their Metamorphoses they are ingenious and probable whereas the Poets can only tells us that to be metamorphos'd into Water there was no other invention then to weep away as Ovid says of Biblis But where Lysis takes away that contrariety of being chang'd into water and yet retaining the form of a humane body which must be compos'd of watery vapours he shews nothing escapes him He had read somewhere what the Magicians say of the apparition of Spirits viz. that the Terrestrial spirits assume bodies of the vapours of the earth and the Aquatick of those of the water What follows concerning the Violin and the Nymphs who deny'd Diana the Sweet-meats all is natural and their punishment too For the latter certainly 't is as easie for the Gods to make Trees bear fruit preserv'd as to change men into Trees And if my Author had said that the Cypress into which the Violin was chang'd bore Fiddles and Violins ready made it had been as probable These stories we are beholding to Clarimond for who seeing the Greek Poets had invented Metamorphoses for the Fountains and Rivers of their Country would do the like to the honour of Brie but the truth is he is gone far beyond them Carmelin's Questions to his Master give him occasion to clear up the ancient Fables wherein 't is wonderfull to see how well he is read I know not whether the Gum of the Tree Lysis be well taken yet 't was a particularity could not be omitted His mind ran then upon Myrrha and the Sisters of Phaeton who weep Amber However it be the story of the Excrement in Bâ—â—clay's Argenis is as bad upon which too there is an Ode At the second rencontre with the Rural Divinities I note Lysis's abuse of the Gods and Nymphs for offering to run away for fear of mortals The Ancients might have made that question to those that talk'd of so many Gods which no man could ever perceive Carmelin's speech to the Nymphs is nothing but a sort of contradictions Ronsard and other Poets have thought them mighty ornaments for Carmelin is one that in this case is no Author I assure you I do not observe Lysis's reading fail him till I come to the bathing of Carmelin And I wonder at it for Ronsard could have taught him what ceremonies were required to make a Mortal fit for a celestial conversation He had forgot that the Ancients wash'd themselves before they consulted the Oracle as also the Victims when they sacrificed and that Magicians bathe themselves in running-water before they fall to their conjurations Certainly Lysis must needs be troubled not to find his Tree yet must he needs play the Tree till Hircan with the help of Agrippa conjur'd him into a Man again The apparition of the Winds hath nothing in it fantastick compar'd with what the Poets say of them That Lysis believ'd Hircan more powerfull then the Gods it shews him to be of the Creed of the Ancients who believed the Gods were subject to the charms of Magicians and that when the Moon was ecclips'd it was some Sorceress had forc'd her from heaven Thus have we seen Lysis chang'd into a Tree and the Tree into Lysis again We are now to see how he behaves himself in the Sixth BOOK WHich begins with Lysis's moral learning The pains he takes to find out Carmelin speaks his good nature But to arrest the Nymphs that stole this poor fellows hat Lysis tels him he must have a celestial Serjeant such as Mercury and he is in the right for he is the Apparitor of heaven 't is he that carries the souls to the prisons of hell 't is he that summons the inferior Deities to appear before Jupiter and when Venus had once lost her son 't was he that cry'd him all over the world You see Lysis understands the offices of the very Gods Carmelin's being out of his lesson argues he is no great Clark but Anselme reconciling him and his master saying that Love who is Master of all Arts will teach him to do better another time and to that end quoted a discourse out of a certain Book The discourse is somwhat long yet since I conceive it may be pleasant to some I shall take the pains to put it down here 'T is in the travels of Aristeus and Amaryllis Among all that have spoken of the â—nature Love there is none hath better described it then the divine Plato who calls it Pandidascala that is to say Master of all Arts for there is no Art nor Science which he teaches not his Schollars In the first place he teaches them Grammer and the eight parts of speech beginning with the nown or name of the beloved and then the pronown of their good Qualities which he makes them repeat often Thence he passes to the Adverbs of the infinite time of their perseverance and those of the swearing of their fidelity Then he makes them understand the active and passive verbs acting and suffering all things for the Beloveds sake Then he teaches them the Participle by which they must divide and part between them the good and the bad the thorns and the roses the pleasures and the torments of this life From thence he proceeds to the Conjunction and conformity of their honest desires to the vertuous affections of the beloved which brings in the Preposition teaching thereby to prefer the pleasure and satisfaction of the beloved before their own and lastly he teaches them the sad and sorrowing Interjections full of pittiful Alas's and interrupted by sighs When the Lover is become a perfect Grammarian his Tutor Love ' prefers him to Rhetorick which helps him to a many eloquent speeches sometimes in the Demonstrative kinde remonstrating to his beloved how much he suffers for her sake sometimes in the Deliberative resolving rather to dy then change his affection sometimes in
be sometimes drawn by Swanns I would have you like that Goddess and I will be your sweet singing Swan to draw your glorious Chariot What do you think on dear Cousin saies Hircan have you forgot you are married have you lost all remembrance of the fair Theodora your wife You must love her eternally you must not be inconstant When I married her I was not acquainted with Mistress Pernella replies Fontenay had I known her I should have loved none but her 't is she that is destined for me let Adrian turn her over to me I earnestly intreat him and let him look after Theodora he shall have her in exchange that he may have no occasion to complain What trick is this put on me cries out Adrian am I come among a sort of Adulterers what vilany is this to propose to me the greatest basenese in the world I will have my wife and my Cousin together if I shall not be suffered to take them away I will bring the power of justice to do it You do not consider where you are when you speak this saies Meliantes no Officer dares come within three miles about of this place There are in this house charms that can reduce them all to dust There came hither one once and took one of Hircans men by the chollar his hand presently fell off and some Sergeants being somewhat incivil were all fastned to stakes and after they were rubb'd well with oyle and brimstone they burned a long time to give light to Travellers in the night While Meliantes said this Lysis asked Hircan whether he and Carmelin were still invulnerable and whether for his own part he had not lost that priviledge by putting off his Heroick Coat Hircan assured him he had not so that he resolved to defend himself couragiously if any Sergeants presumed to touch his body to carry him away to Paris There came up on this occasion a fresh imagination into his mind which he never had before he would needs know how Hircan could assure him he was invulnerable since he was wonnded every day by the darts of love Hircan told him it was true indeed that love had wounded him but that it was before he had made use of his charms and that besides he had promised only to fortifie his body against the Arms of Mars but not against the Arrows of Cupid which are so small that they are invisible and pierce insensibly through the eyes even to the heart This satisfied Lysis and being retired with Carmelin he told him he was very glad to know he was as invulnerable as when they were in the Castle of Anaximander and there 's one thing saies he will much promote my designe which is when I have taken the poison it will be said that in regard I could not be hurt in any part of the body and that swords and daggers could do no good upon me I could not possibly die but by a drink Carmelin approved this and in the mean time Hircan seeing Adrian was almost mad for anger entertained him with this discourse You are to consider my good friend sayes he to him that you are now among Shepherds whose principal profession is to love All their books speak of nothing else they know nothing else and therefore be not offended at their too free discourses they are a sort of people that are much given to the exercise of the passions and will be in the pursuit of a woman ten years so that at the end of such a term she requite them with a piece of old ribbond wherewith she have tied up her hair They are not impudent as you think them their Laws are against it they do not speak to their Mistresses but they tremble and if they desired to touch her brest fear would so benum them that their hands would grow stiff at half way I have a wife as well as you but if fifty Shepherds such as Fontenay should be in love with her I should have never a worm the more in my head because I know he is the fearfullest man in the world and besides that he hath the reputation to be impotent you must in your self laugh at such a mans passion yet make as if you were angry before him that he may not take you for an arrant fool if you carry your self so I believe you cannot do amiss and you may afterward tell stories of your Lovers affections Adrian was not satisfied with these reasons nor indeed did Hircan endeavour much to appease him what he had said to him was by way of abuse Adrian therefore was extreamly troubled and though his wife had turned over thirty and was black and lean yet did he think her handsome and was a little jealous 't was an infinite pleasure to see him ever and anon look towards Fontenay to observe what countenance he made on Pernella This feigned Lover having fetcht three or four deep sighs fell down all along upon chairs as if he had swouded whereat his companions seem'd much troubled rubbing his temples and casting water on his face When they had brought him to himself again he for a long time stared on all that were about him Alass my dear friends said he why have you so soon interrupted the sweet extasie My mind pleased it self in the Ideas of all worldly pleasures and now it knows nothing real but its own affliction I burn witout hope of enjoyment for an ungratefull woman that hath not vouchsafed me so much as a look since I have declared my affection to her Hircan upon this said that since he was so ill he were best be had to bed which made his companions lead him to his chamber making a thousand extravagant postures Thus these Gentlemen since they became acquainted with Lysis were so accustomed to abuse him that they abused one another and would not spare Adrian nor his wife supposing their minds of the same mettal with their Cousin and that simplicity was entailed on the whole race from generation to generation There was only Lysis that staid with Hircan who began to bring afresh into his mind the pleasures of their former life because Adrian was present whom he would also perswade that the shepherds life was the most happy In the mean time Carmelin took occasion to go and see Amaryllis who was alone in her Chamber where she asking him what the other Shepherds had done since they were returned He answered that he knew not what to say of them and that they knew not what they did themselves they were so in love And is it possible Carmelin can be and not be in love Truly Madam reply'd he since I have ever found you my good friend I will freely tell you what my heart thinks A man must once in his life at least discover what his inclinations are 'T is possible I may be in love but not with Parthenice Were I a stone like her whom my Master will have me love 't were not amiss I