the comfortable day O let those eyes which are so much the fayrer by how much my torment is made greater by them to pittie the anguish I haue got by gazing on them Melidora with a blushing countenance whose rosie colour gaue a signe of heauenly anger eyeing the Shepheard with an appauling Maiestie demaunded of him if hee were not that Thirsis who comming but lately into these walks had made those curious hookes and baites with which her-selfe and the other Nymphes had so oft taken so manie fish He made her answere it was hee shee demaunded againe if it were not he that had made the curious Nets wherewith himselfe and the Shepheards had taken so manie birdes hee made her answere it was hee why then said Melidora Shepheard farewell I will no longer stay with thee lest I bee likewise taken by thee but hee staying her againe said Excellent Ladie how can you be made captiue by your prisoner or howe can your subiect alter anye of your determinations alas most excellent creature you know my seruice hath attended you in the woods in the Medowes on the Mountains at the springs at the riuers by day by night I at euery silent time and yet hath my thoughts bin pure without the staine of villanie I saide Melidora but when yong desires begin to sting and bee inflamed you giue me cause to fear the effects of frenzie I hope said Thirsis by that to purchase my glorie when you beholding mine anguish shall admire my patience O but you may forget your selfe said Melidora I le near forget said Thirsis to doe that which shal cōtent you I le neare attempt that which in my knowledge shal offend you I take you at your worde saide Melidora henceforth I charge you that you forget to loue me for there is nothing in the world can bring my minde better contentment againe I charge you that you tarrie no longer in my presence for nothing in the worlde is more offensiue vnto me Madam saide Thirsis both your commaunds are extreame yet to the first I must needs make answere I can neuer forget to loue you because all my thoughtes doe and must euer so doe liue in you Why said Melidora will you loue mee in despight of me O no said Thirsis not in despight though I cannot retyre Well said Melidora if thy disposition be as full of curtesie as thy words are of care auoyde from mee or let me goe from thee I hope said Thirsis that Time who is the worlds conquerour will eyther conquer you or consume me I humbly take my leaue And with that rising from the ground in such an heauie perplexitie that sorrow was neuer to bee seene in a more sorrowfull taking he departed from her and went not respecting where or whither onely desirous to hide his heade in some dark Caue where none but Miserie and he might liue togither Siluagio that sawe him thus depart like a condemned man and was a witnesse of the heauie sentence that shee his cruel Iudge had pronounced wondring that infernall furie should be found in a heauenly bodie and cursing nature that had placed a flintie heart in a silken Cabinet followed his friend with infinite pensiuenesse as well to preuent the aduauntage Dispaire might take of griefe as to fortifie that wounded hope which now was euen at his last breathing But Melidora all-be the excellēcie of her owne disposition could haue affoorded a more milder repulse yet at this time her mind being caried away with such an earnest affection as may well be comprehended within the title of loue would not suffer her tongue to deliuer any other satisfaction And this was the reason There is a gallant yong Shepheard who some three yeares agone hauing seated himselfe in Tempe hath lyued there with much happinesse more admiration but most loue his beautie inticing his good disposition confirming and his vertue binding vnto him all those with whom at any time he conuersed His rurall profession was beautified with a Cittie-gouernment his homely attyre had a courtly fashion and his plainest discourses were interlyned with wittie and morrall constructions his words were queint his behauiour ciuill and his desires lofty insomuch that he was called the courtly shepheard or the noble Pastor exceeding all his fellowe-Shepheards excepting onely the most rare Thirsis whom he could exceede in nothing but in the blisse of affection This worthie Swaine had long time before Thirsis came into these parts with his noble deseignes which promised more then could be comprehended in a countrey fortune had so won the heart of the excellent Princesse Melidora that shee did not disdaine to call him her seruant and with many graces did so adorne his blisfulnesse that his loftie fortunes might well contend with any Monarchs greatnesse in-so-much that loue who had euer liued prisoner in her eyes began to dart his beames into the Shepheards heart and with a wanton recoyling to looke nowe and then downe into her bosome making his dayly seruice the witnesse of his assured loue and her Fauour an Herauld to pronounce that by possibilitie shee might loue Nowe it happened that this day beeing the great Sabboth of Diana the Princesse had promised her Shepheard Diatassan for so was he named after the Rites and Ceremonies were finished to meete him in a most pleasant Arbor seated in a delicate groaue dedicated to the Goddesse Chloris to which none but her selfe onely had priuate accesse there to discourse vnto him the order the pompe and the manner of the Ceremonies which were due to the greate Goddesse and to that ende she was walkt foorth as before I haue rehearsed and beeing nowe entred into the Arbor finding her Shepheard not come taking vp a Lute which lay ypon a bed of flowers hard by to whose sweete sound coupling her more sweeter voyce she sang this Sonnet I Doe not now complaine of my disgrace O cruell Loue O loue too cruell crost Nor of the hower season time nor place Nor of my foyle for any freedome lost Nor of my minde by my misfortune daunted Nor of my wit with ouer-weening strooke Nor of my sense by any sound inchaunted Nor for the force of fierie poynted looke Nor of the steele that stickes within my wound Nor of my thoughts by worser thoughts displac'd Nor of the life I labour to cofound But I complaine that being thus disgrac'd Fierd feard fettred shot through slaine My death is such as I dare not complaine She had scarce made an ende of her song before the courtly Shepheard Diatassan entred into the groaue blushing to see his absence condemned of all negligent errors by her presence humbly besought her Maiestie to pardon his slow-footed attendāce alledging the care of his folde the feare of suspect and many other prettie excuses but aboue all he alledged the losse of a most dainty lambe which he had most curiously brought vp and wherewith Melidora was much delighted to play saying that morning the cruel wolfe had
right The vulgar maxime as vntrue That he should be a God of might Who breedes the cares makes all soules rue That takes all reason from desire And peece-meale teares the troubled heart Being a moste consuming fire That wastes our inward heauenly part But worse accurst are they by much That on mens beauties fixe their eye And thinke no heauenly comfort such As that which in faire lookes doth lye Alas they doe too much forget That loue and men are of one minde Busie to lay that cruell net Which thralles the simple foolish blinde Returning them most losse at all That loues the best and is most thrall After they had sung this song euery one dipping her golden Flagon in the Fountaine after some little intercourse of speech wherein one gaue prayses to the Goddesse Minerua another commended the vertues of the water and others the ordinances of those Ceremonies In the selfe-same comely order as they came they nowe began to returne But Diatassan who during all the time of their abode had with a curious eye behelde the hindmost Nymph of the traine began to reade within the faire storie of her beauties many remembrances of those ancient thoughts which had long agoe in the Maydentime of his first loue infinitely surprised him Manye tymes his eyes tolde him they sawe nothing but that sight which they had most dearely loued His thoughts tolde him they were inriched with no new cogitations and his heart affirmed that but that Image there was none in it perfectly engrauen to be plaine shee so much resembled a worthy Nymph whom in his first youth he had loued most sincerely till iniurious Death had made a diuorce betwixt their affections that euen now his reuolting eyes began coward-like to yeeld to the assault of her beautie and not content to yeeld alone did so perswade his heart that hee couetous of new honour subiected all that was in him to her obedience Melidora was now in his minde but like that picture which Zuxis desired to see vnder the painted sheete which was mearly nothing as hauing no place or being all that he was was but onely a scrole of this new affection And now beholding Apheleia both with slowe pace and some sleight excuse loiter behind the rest of her felow nimphs he discouered him-selfe and with a gentle pace ouertaking her after his downe-cast lookes and some trembling wordes had like a preface tolde her his talke must be all of loue taking vp her hande and giuing it a louely kisse he demaunded of her if that hande were not the hand which did prodigally cast into his fruitfull breast the faire seed of blooming fancie whose ripe haruest shal returne her milions of gaines or tell me faire Nymph said he are not these glorious eies of yours the war-like Cytadels where all conquering loue sits as in his Empire cloathed with the rich spoyles of many kingly ouerthrowes and for a tryumph hangs out his most beautious colours O God they are therefore let neuer any Shepheard feare Ioues thunder-bolts or in their Carols aduance the vnconquered sword of the God of warre but let them all bee amazed with thy beautie and with that amazement let them record the victories thou hast obtained of the worlde of loue and of me thy seruant Wel I remember that in the April of my yeares I haue been somtimes inticed amongst my fellow Shepheards to taste the delights of youths inuentions and in those delights haue delighted to approue the mindes of many Maidens yet neuer till now haue fixt my constant mind of any till I saw thee I saw not any that coulde content me for whose sake I haue this day desperately aduentured my life by comming disguised into Dianas temple wherefore deare Nymph let the former words which I whispered in thy daintie eares the mutuall agreement of our hither comming and the due attendance I haue performed in my seruice as the messengers of pity plead for my merit and euē as with patience I suffer the bitter anguish of my thoughts so let loue and thy selfe bee curteous to my sad destiny To this she āswered Faire Shepheard according to mine agreemēt here I make good my promise yet not in such sorte that by it thou shalt suppose I stande intangled in those foolish snares which you Thessalians call loue but for it pleased thee without eyther Desire in me or Desert in my perfections to make so franke and absolute a gift of thy hart of thy soule and of thy selfe to rest euer at my disposing so that it should be vtterly vnlawfull for any but me to giue to retaine to keep to change or to dispose any thing within the compasse of thine affection and that al thy thoughts and actions should maiden-like giue a modest and sincere attendance vpon my will which sith I see thou dost effectually performe by this newe seconds of thy former loue be thou pleased with mine acknowledgment that I haue heard thy loue O but said he shall the tender of these my seruices receyue at thy hands no recompence t' is recompence inough said she that I giue credit to thy words acceptāce to thy seruice Why then sayd he let this bondage of my loue bee like those calme blastes which kindle the fire of delight whose flame breaking forth into the world may make vs admyred of all constant beholders As she was about to replie vnto this speech she might perceiue the rest of the Nymphes looking backe and staying for her companie which occasioning her with a shamefast blushing to breake off her conference she told him their many wordes might moue many suspitions which to auoid it was fit that silence should part them yet said she Faire Shepheard take this little remembrance and weare it for my sake and with that she gaue him a very faire Iewell wherein was set a most rich Diamond cut in the fashion of a Spheare or Globe and about it was writ this word Mauens moueor and so she departed But assoone as his eyes had lost her which was their best obiect they instantly conuerted their lookings to her costlye fauor on which when hee had with many curious surueys a good space meditated had to many crosse and cōtrary senses wrested and expounded the cunning deuise at length constantly beholding the frame of the faire Gloabe and marking with what course the reflections and sparkles like little spheares wound about the foil which like the earth the worlds cēter stood in the midst of the Mund he could not forbeare to say Deare Maid be thou the Sky let me be the earth on whom gentle loue may make the morning lightes of grace to arise and giue faire glory to my darknes and although this sullen night make thee withdraw frō mine eyes the beames of thy countenance O yet let thy fauor continually runne about me and how soeuer I mooue let thy loue neuer be remooued from mee many other passionate speeches to like effect he vttered
found an end in our speaches the gods forbidde O Cinthia Cinthia our Fieldes Garland our Winters spring our Sommets shade our Haruests fruit and the liuing cause of all Creatures happy liuings be thine eyes the witnesses of our vowes and our owne deedes the test monies of our faithes be thine admiration as great as our loues for our loues shal be as boundles as the infinite world of thy perfections Continue the miracle of time as thou art the wonder amōgst women that when Enuy after this day shall boast Queene Hellen of Corinth was vertue yet thy vertue succeeding all ages may still ingraft in remembrance an induring and vnblotted excellence Heere an extreame violence to speake much in the praises of deuine Cinthia whom with equall ardor they both most sincerely adored ouer came the power of much speaking and with dumbe Oratorie conuerted his language to dumbnesse whilst Carino thus replied What needes my Credulo said he this inditement against the hope of our contentment whose desperate resolution long since hath pleaded guiltie before the greatest iudge of our Fortunes To reckon our cares were to number the starres to measure our loues were to make a circle greater then the greatest either is or can bee and to vnlade our affectionate desires were by spoonfulls to conuay the Sea into some contrary Channell what they are we feele and when they shall determine the all-seeing all-thinges only hath knowledge as easie can the Sunne be remooued from his diurnall passage as our thoughts from her remembrance or our hearts from the loue of her vertues Haue not we succeeded both in our loues and admirations the truely louing Strephon and Claius whose induring constancies forlorne indurances heaued their Vrania beyond the degree of superlatiue And is there likelyhood we will either seeke the abridgement of our woes which is the badge of our sufferance or the end of our loue which is the heauen of our cogitations no no my Credulo it was Vertue that brought foorth wonder wonder knowledge knowledge loue and loue the eternitie of our neuer to be slaine affection Be then the world by vs fil'd full of the praises of deuine Cinthia and euery Mothers child taught to adore the Starre can lead to so heauenly perfections But whether are we carried with the force of her remembrance and the violence of our owne duties arose wee thus early for this came we to complaine to the Ocean for this wette we our vn-dride cheekes with new teares for this or are our moanes sencelesse to all be moanings but this only Indeed as euery place is for ornamēt beholding to this subiect so is this subiect indebted to euery place for a gratefull relenting and inticing acceptance But we came as I remember to remember that being the Vassails bōdslaues to Beauty we owe some rent of greife to the ouerthrow of a rare Beauty Ah Hellen faire Hellen vnhappily happy in thy fairenes who hauing al the possible meanes of alluremēts in thy perfections findest nothing but impossibillities in attaining the meanest of thy wishes thou art vnhappy thou art vnhappy And as he would haue further pursued the agony of his passion which euen then Credulo was ready to secōd with an hoste of most bleeding arguments they were both interrupted with an extraordinary noise full of terror amazement which to the first apprehension they imagined to be a peale of Thunder running post before the violence of an insuing storme But more consideratly beholding the marble cleernes of the well disposed skye and attentiuely hearing the continuance of the former rumor they found the error of that conceit wherevpon comparing with the suruay of their eyes cast vppon euery adioyned obiect the hollownes of the sound and hard distinguishment of the clamors both which gaue testimonie of a farre cōming exclamation they cast their sightes to the Sea-ward euen so farre as the deuision of the ayre would giue limitte to their seeing and at the furthest end of that prospect they might perceiue like a small duskie cloud rising from the water which by little and little creeping more neere the leuel of their iudgements they saw increase both in quantitie affright to their eyes vnaccustomed to such spectacles for as if Ioue and Neptune had bene in combat for their birth-rightes either striuing with the predominant qualities of his kingdome to annoy each others habitation so might one see through the clouds-thicknes flames of fire dauncing vpon the waters and immediatly mountaines of water rise vp to sporte with those fires there was to be seene by the eye of imagination a combate without weapons yet many times weapons and no combate a feare with-out danger yet more danger then feare could comprehend at last what with the helpe of the windes which comming from the Sea-ward blew directly with a recoyling force against the shoare they might plainly discerne a Galley a Gallioon like an Eliphant and a Serpent grapled together in an austere and reuengefull contention the fury of the fight augmenting with the continuance of the fight as if strength were to be-gotten by stroakes or freshnes by wearinesse so power-full were the handes of those actors and so pure the spirites which then commaunded the vse of such handes But amongst the rest and aboue all that then were without rest they might perceiue two in whom as it seemed a vindicatiue resolution had made them the wrathfull ministers of an inexpiable malice so the manner of exercising attested an incomparable vertue both in the dexteritie of their valours and in the vnamazed pursuite of their reuenges satisfaction for as it seemed they two contended against all or all sought the ouer-throwe of those two many handes being erected agaynst one head and yet many heads cut off by one hand This fight continued in the viewe of the Sheapheards by the space of two howres with no lesse terrour to them who arm'd with so spacious a distance as might giue assurance from any assailement had notwithstanding through their eyes receiued the wound of feare vpon their hearts then repentant sorrow in those that vnder-went the reuenge of so haughty courages But by and by they sawe the Ships which till then had as it were kist one an other hung togither by an vnfriendly boystrous imbracement disseuer themselues the Gally what with the force of her Oares and a little helpe of a quarter winde which breath'd vpon her Sayles made her way directly foorth into the Sea with such eagernesse of speede as many times we see a Pirate when he hath in chase a rich and well laden home-returning Marchant but contrary to that the Gallyoon with al the canuasse she could put forth boare before the wind as euen vpon the shoare as might be imagined yet might they still beholde as long as the vertue of their sightes could hold the knowledge of any obiect one of the forenoted Champions in the Gally not onely continue but in more mortall and
is now euen great in laboure withall hearing not of that but of another most daungerous wound he had receiued in a former combate betwixt him and the excellent Musidorus after a tedious and wearie iourney wherein only loue tooke away the bitter feeling of wearines she ariued in those parts of Arcadia with assured hope of his recouery by means of a most excellent Surgion whom then in her country she retained But in such an inauspitious hower of vnluckines that finding the feare of danger taken from the daunger she feared there was now an inrecouerable perrill wedded to a desperat fearefulnes for the foe was his owne hande and that hand guided by so hopeles a loue that hating all thinges which the loue he loued would not pittie he himselfe had vsed against himselfe that violence which else no violence could haue vsed In briefe when she came to his presence she found him bathing in his owne selfe-spilling bloode and if not absolutly dead yet so neare the confines of deathes Kingdome that not the seuerest iudgement could say or hope he liued To discribe the liuely sorrow which assending from her dying hearte appeared in the watry Sun-shine of her eyes how oft she swounded reuiued and againe and againe re-dyed what bloode-wasting sighes she vttered what groanes shee disburdened how lamentably she bewailed how desperatly she raged the war betwixt her faire handes and her bosome betwixt her torne haires and the windes motion her teares burning in the beautie of her cheekes and her beautie drowned in the Channell of her teary Ocean her cōfusiō in sorow making an vniformity is heauines yet that heauy vniforme a barbarous Chaos of miserie to describe this I say were labor infinite and innecessarie the rather sith it stands in a memoriall by the most memorable pen that euer recorded matter worthie of memorie But at last when sorrow had as it were in the iudgement of all her beholders called to so straite an account all the sorrowes of her remembrance that there was no other matter left saue onely sorrow in her imaginations and that so full of imperious commaund as it was high treason against her soule to thinke it was not eternall euen then the eye of wisdome cleared by those afflicting clouds which muffled her affections began to discouer the error in her forgetful passions her weeping making her neglect the meanes should bring her to not weeping and her complaints drawing on a certaine end to worke in her endlesse complainings whereupon turning from the dead reputed coarse that her returning might adde more violent extremitie to her compassionate languishment and a little depriuing her eies the blessednesse of their sights that with the same sight they might bee more diuinely endeared shee humbly threw herselfe at the feete of those Princes whose heauie eyes not without abundant teares were spectators of that immortally bemoaned tragedy but especially she conuerted all her speeches to the world contemning Anaxius a man whose selfe-louing opinion had drawne into him a beleefe of impossible atchieuements and to him shee declared the olde age of her tedious dispised loue the vnremoueable constancie of her confident affection and the world-wondring end her sorrow would consumate as soone as her hopes were depriued the blisse of their expectation euer and anon mingling amongst her compassionate bemoanings such an intyre adoration to the name of Anaxius preferring it before Angells and recording it first of all in the mightie inrolment of God-heades that he whose blindnesse could apprehend nothing but his owne greatnesse grew now great with childe of imaginarie diuinitie and though for the death of Amphyalus he had vowed a detestation of all women yet in loue with his owne glorie hee was content with a deformed smile to commend her that thereby he might backe againe call to minde his owne commendations and swoare by himselfe for greater than himselfe his great heart would neuer acknowledge that the royall humour of her greatnesse gaue her an excellent inspection and a determinate meane of wel iudging the singularitie of others perfections but yet he who had neuer accustomed himselfe to condiscende to any desire of vertue because his Religion was grounded vppon this heresie that honour was got by contradiction and greatnesse most feated by a perticular deniall of a generall intreatie notwithstanding all the dartie Launces of her well tempted Oratorie would haue vtterly withstood her sute which was onely to haue the cōueyance of the body of Amphyalus into her own countrey had not his two brothers called Zoylus and Lycurgus to whom ambitious Nature had not beene full out so prodigal though by a great deal too much much too liberall in the same humor of ostentation taken a more liuely taste of bitternesse from her teares and ioyned in the approbation of her reasonable demaund drawing the strength of their arguments from this ground that sith hee was a desperate forsaken patient whom no Phisition or Surgion in those parts durst in the least hope giue a light of suruiuing if any other part there were an insearchable skill vnreuealed it was necessarie to approue it because nothing could draw the daunger to a greater height then it was alreadie raysed besides they boasted what honour it would be to them to conduct the dead bodie to the bordering skirts of Basilius armie which of necessitie they must doe as it were in despight without eyther controlment or damage to the intents they purposed This last speech though the other auailed found a more insinuating acceptance in the Sunne-scalding ayme of Anaxius so that he agreed to all her desires giuing her leaue to embalme the body with such preseruatiues as for that purpose she had brought with her and tolde her that as well for the vertues hee found in her of which himselfe could better iudge then any other creature as for a carefull hope he had of his frends recouerie she should haue that day not onely her wish but also a God meaning himselfe to be her sanctuarie defendant and one who would in such safetie conduct her through the tents of his enemies that to her well seeing iudgement should appeare the terror of his greatnes The comfortlesse Lady to whom the want of comfort serued as a comfortable companion taught by her griefe a politike cariage in griefe soothed vp his vanities by amplifying vpon his vaine grounds and with heartie humblenesse offered to kisse his hand as a testimonie of the assurance she reposed in his magnanimitie All things being prepared fit for so great a solemnitie Anaxius and his traine attending on the hearse and the faire Queene Hellen issued in a most solemne tragicke manner from the Castle of Amphialus and so conducted her to the banks of the swift-falling riuer Ladon without either impeachment or disturbance where after many confused shewers of vncontrollable teares seeming as if they would ioyne with the riuer to ouerflow and drowne the neighbour plaines Anaxius and his brothers Zoylus and Lycurgus
brother to the Queene at that time and in her absence commanding as her Vicegerent with the absolute authoritie of her Scepter desirous to giue her that intertainment which might be most sutable to those lamētable delights whervnto was cōtracted al the thoghts of her vnderstanding gathered togither the old remembrances of his own former disquieted happinesse when the Varnish of Artesias beautie blearing his eyes made him imagin his hart was wounded with an army of Launces caused these nourishing showes of displeasure pleasingly to bee presented vnto her first in her passage ouer the riuer Tegea which runs some two leagues from the Citie as soone as she was entred into her Barge and lanched from the shore with the artificiall noyse of sundrie vessels prepared for the purpose there arose to her imagination a strong and fierce storme with such dreadfull clappes of thunder and lightning that to an vnwel-apprehending sense Art might seeme not to borrow but to lend much to the diuinitie of Natures perfection After these foregoers of amazement followed a tempestuous shewer of raine which as if Iuno had beene at a newe intreatie with Aeolus and offered not Diope but Hellen her-selfe for his Paramour was so violently carried with the seeming powers of many windes that the Barge-men who had the conduct of the Queene all be they were agents in these deuised extremities yet seeing the effect of the worke go so farre beyond the effects of their knowledges grew forgetfully astonished and beganne to lay downe their Oares and crie to bee deliuered from that feare which them-selues had created to shew the power of fearfulnes Neuer till nowe did the solitarie Queene cast vp her eies or in the least chaunge of countenance giue notice she had noted their proceedings but with the constantnesse of her sorrow taught them that the picture of true wo was by no Idaea to be taken yet whether stirred by their to no purpose exclamations or imagining their stay a signe of her arriuall on the other side and that they cried out but onely to companion her bemoanings she arising looked forth but sawe all the ayre so smoothered vp in an vnnaturall perfumed myst wherein all delicate odours had with such an attonement symbolizd them-selues togither to make a perfite vse of absolute sweetnesse that it bred in her a delightful wonder with a respectiue carelesnesse so that she cast her sight about her with a more stedfast inquirie to behold the euent of the stratagem when the vapour a litle clearing yet not so much that any brightnesse of the day might from the inamaled fore-head of the heauens bee perceiued shee sawe or seemed to see directly vpon the shoare before her the modell of an ancient Castell the curious frame of whose building by reason of the fogge could not be well discouered onely as it was most likely either from some hic erected window or from the top of some well raysed Tower shee might behold a burning Lampe that with his oft in and out appearing sometimes violently flaming and immediately dampt and depriued for a long space of his shining showed the implacable warre of two contrarie conioined Elements and the madnesse of that storme tyrannizing ouer so little a spot of inflamation But as shee fixed her sight thereupon suddenly a wrastling in the waters close by her Barges side inuited her eyes to a nearer obiect and sheee sawe swimming vpon the waues in most amiable gracefulnes and with such an art-full dexteritie as gaue an ornament to the siluer liquid a most beautifull and faire young man close at whose heeles followed the Sea-god Neptune with his Trident in one hand and in the other small remnants of innumerable treasures which hee carryed as figures of that inestimable abundance which is concealed in the bottomlesse wombe of the Oceans darknesse and with them as it were wooed the louely youth whose minde borne vpon the wings of contrarie affections conueyed him with an inrespectiue motion from the presence of the God often times in shrikes crying O Hero Hero I haue tardy armes and slowe forces vnworthy attendants for so sweete a beautie at which the God with a mourning pitiousnes diued downe into the deepe and was no more descerned At this the care-wasted Queen apprehended the deuice and presently called to memorie that first storie of loue which euer in writing was bequeathed to memorie of the infortunate Hero and Leander but with such greedinesse that all-be she knew it was a deuise begotten to delight her passion yet forgot that either it was deuised or that her passion should delight in such sorrowfulnesse wherfore as if it had beene the substance of that shadow it presented she gaue it such a memorable entertainment as in despite of reason she brake forth into these weepings O excellent Hero said she that hadst triumph in thy loue vertue in thy faith admire in thy cōstancy in thy death a most blessed blessed martyrdom thou wert vnhappie in thy too much happines happie in the worst ende of thy sowre fortune thou didst infinitely loue and wert much more infinitely affected so that if thou didst euer sigh it was because thou couldest not loue beyond infinitenes how cōtrarie am I to the state of thy proceedings whose loue is bondage whose faith respectlesse constanciesse auaile death by a remotenesse too obstinately helples thy Leander loued that he might be disdained mine disdained because he desired to bee hated thine swam a Hellespont to inioy thee mine an Ocean to be remoued frō me thine made a perfit work ere an imperfit ending mine ouerthrew all labor because in the end should be no perfection O Amphyalus Amphyalus if euer those entombed eyes had power to heaue vp the coffins which incloud their brightnes make cleare those sweet circles and looke with pitie if not with loue vpon pittious Leander see how he plowes the waters to reape a forraine desired haruest whilest thou hast a greater ryches falling vpon thy bosome see how he mournes for the slownesse of his blisse whilest I crie out at the swiftnesse of my miserie O Fortune how doest thou auerse the countenance of thy fauour and in the Atrocitie of my mishaps buildest the glorie of thy Kingdome when wilt thou bring backe thine aspectiue mildnesse and let mee see againe those Halcion dayes of calmenesse which in my first age I enioyed O vnbegotten intreatie thou art as farre from effect as I from reason and both shall neuer meete with our wishes And hauing thus said she fell to a new maner of old lamenting when the onely eye imagined storme imitating a tragicke disposition to make the last act the extremest broke into an instant violence his companion darknes which euer runnes before him hauing put on the worst habite of his worst countenance so that as if the clouds had beene rent in peeces with thunder the ayre burnt to cinders with lightning and the earth thirsted to haue bin drowned in an other Ducallidon all
immediatlye built himselfe a moste curious house euen in the midst thereof where wanting nothing that might breede delight hee found the excesse thereof did breede sometimes a loathing of pleasure neare vnto his owne house and round about the bordering skirts of this Tempe hee built manye prettye and conuenient cottages in which hee placed certaine Shepheardes whose well tempered myndes finding the ambition of better aduaunced people smallye auayle to the attainement of true felicitye are the onelye schooles to teach their forrayne Neighbours that their industrye and prouidence neyther giueth hope of disturbance nor example of generall or priuate quarrell into this place he would seriously retire himselfe in the voide time of his progresse as much to renewe his remembrance with his past knowledges as to better his instant knowledge with newe matter worthye of moste excellent remembrance so exceeding wittye were the Shepheardes by him there placed and so much excellencye did his presence administer to them which were but simplye witted neare vnto his owne house hee buylt a fayre and sumptuous Temple Circular and in forme of the auncient Iewes Sinagogue the outside of marble containing fiftie Arches euerye Arch a dore each dore seauen windowes each window seauen Pyllasters of Iet and porpherye each pillaster seauen images of the Saints Sages and worthies of past ages This Temple hee dedicated to the greate Goddesse Diana and indowing it with a Metropolitan authoritie subiected not onely vnto those lawes which lawes are ingrauen in certaine Pillars of Copper and Marble adioyning to the Temple and other places the Residents home borne and straungers in that prouince but euen himselfe his crowne and succession In this place and in this rurall companye hee tooke a more then most contented delight they seeking by Eglogues pastoralles shepheardly contentions and other sports of witte and courage as running leaping wrastlinge throwing the Darte the Stone and the Massye axel-tree to ingrafte in his setled Iudgement a setled continuance of those harmles commendations This continuing the happy daies of this more happy King death comming to challenge his subiect nature taking from the eye of the world what the worlds eye moste dearely esteemed I meane this renowned Musidorus hee left behinde him as the onely heyre of his Kingdome and perfections the alone incomperable Mellidora natures wonder the Muses subiect and the Booke of Beautye the day of delight the life of loue and the Iewell of eternitye But she to whome the strangenes of griefe made the euill shape thereof by many degrees much more ouglye tooke such an incurable surfait through her impatience that esteeming no commaundemēt the Fates hauing taken away her onely commaunder shee gaue herselfe clerely from the commaundement both of her owne and other passions and by no perswasion would eyther take care for the common wealth to her by her Fathers death so deepely ingaged not comforte in the Crowne without which the great man imagines there can bee no true felicitie for which errour when the Sages of her Kingdome had with an humble chyding shewed her the faults of her wil the office of her calling in the one painting the effects of her weaknesse in the other the seale which must aduaunce her to eternall happinesse she with a sad resolution made them this answere I know my Lords as sound men doe the effects of Physicke but cannot digest taste of the potions I know mine euill but my passion ouer-rules me therefore I beseech you be suffering as my selfe will be patient giue me the name take vpon you the nature of mine office rule you my Kingdome let me only rule my thoughts deale you with reasonable men whilest I deale with vnreasonable passions for I protest I will intermeddle with no subiect but the subiect of my sorrowes To what end faire Prince shall I wade further into the Laborinth of her woes suffice it me thus to say the vertuous Melidora referring the gouernment of her kingdome to a well chosen Senate and betaking her selfe with a conuenient retinue of Ladies and attendants into this delicate Tempe hath euer since her fathers death liued Nymph-like exercising hunting throwing the Dart running and such Goddesse-like pleasures wherin she doth so farre exceede all possible imaginations that if Cephalus him-selfe were yet liuing hee would become a suter for her knowledge Into this Tempe is prohibited by an especiall Edict vppon paine of death the approach or arriuall of any Prince Noble-man or other of Citie qualitie the innocencie of the place desiring no commercement but with innocent creatures except only at that time when the yong Princes of Delphes came to offer to Apollo their nine yeares Sacrifice Into this place not long sithence there is come a yong Shepheard whose name is Thirsis borne as he saith in Pelagonia and recommended thither by especiall Letters from diuers of the ancient Shepheards of Arcadia who hauing Wit the contriuer Money the meanes which onely in this age doth aduance fortunes falling into acquaintance with a silly block-headed swaine called Corridon one who made folly his best wisdome and extreame ignorance the depth of his best knowledge hath purchased from him both his flocke and the priuiledges belonging to his flockes keeping This Coridon becomming now a seruant vnto Thyrsis who to attaine the pleasures of the soyle would not haue disdained to haue called him maister All-be I may iustly say without the feare of reprehension this Thirsis hath shewed himselfe so excellently endewed with all the admirable partes of perfection that he may worthily bee tearmed the miracle of this age he liues in his youth being in the May time of his flourish exceeded with a most exceeding beautie which beautie rauishing all eyes was bettered by vertue that did astonish hearts his iudgements tempered with much knowledge his knowledge coupled to a demure silence what shall I say so excellent were his good parts that hee wanne loue in his companions and admire in strangers euerie one imitating his actions for their prayses and alleaging his words as their best authorities But as we see the Curtaine of the night takes from our eyes the glory of the day yet is the dayes returne no lesse beautifull so a little Melancholie drawne on by a mightie loue distempering his soule brought him to the vse of much solitarinesse which solitarinesse like a slie enemie seeking to steale the minde from the bodie cloathing himselfe in the roabes of vertue and diuine contemplation so imprisoned Thirsis vnder the arrest of his passions that in the ende hee began to forsake all companie sports hee contemned pastoralles he neglected his profites wayned his flock wasted and himselfe consumed which being by all his neighbours with much pittie noted was by many of his best wishers infinitely lamented especially by a famous Forrester thereby named Siluagio whose better profession brought him to a better feeling of the mindes infirmityes and whose best loue being by a strong bonde of not to bee cancelled faith tyed
all other affections and passions of the minde like a most excellent picture that is bordered about with Antike Boscage or Crotesko works of slight estimation This loue is not the most fruitlessest and base of all Passions as being begot by Desire and Sloath as working vppon weake hearts and frenzies as onely accompanying mutinous passions and discomfortable ielousies and in the ende aspyreth to a minutes Delight which is vsherd with much paine and followed by an eternall future repentance No no my Thirsis true loue and true louers doe mingle and confound themselues so in each other with a generall mixture that they out-weare and loose the port or gate of their first entrance Reason being taken away and a more excellent and more fatall power made Mistresse of that neuer to be vntied vnion these passions which they feigne to be his consorts are sicknesses of the minde which enuying loues exquisitenesse seeke with their poysons to confound his beauties but in the ende like cloudes betwixt the Sunne and our eiesights doe but darken loue that when loue breakes out it may be more resplendant As Siluagio was thus going on and discoursing praysing loue with disprayses Thirsis whose minde was busyed about much higher thoughts woulde suffer his eares to retayne nothing saue onelye the sounde of his speeches till in the ende lifting vppe their heades they might espie the onely Paragon of this worldes knowledge the excellent Melidora somewhat a farre off comming in the selfe same path in which them-selues walked in so much that except they retyred they must perforce meete her eye to eye and visage to visage Shee was Nymph-like cloathed in sundrie coloured silkes which being placed one vppon another were of an equall distance one shorter then another the in-most being longest as brauing of his most inwarde and familiar acquaintance yet all of them ioyning their beautyes together made round about her an arteficiall Rayne-bowe her hayre beeing wound vp in a lace of golde was intermingled with manye Flowers all which beauties as if they had beene too glorious for heauen or to rich for earth were shadowed and all ouer-cast with a large vaile of white Cypresse In this sorte shee was returning from the Temple of Diana that day beeing the great Saboath dedicated to the Goddesse whereby the auncient ordinances and edictes of that place all the Nimphes are to make their personall appearance and to offer solemne sacrifice and other priuate ceremonyes to the Queene of Chastitye beeing all vaylde from the iudyciall censure of the eye-sight least the misprision of a blush or the attaindure of a pale looke shoulde giue occasion to a wanton thought to misdeeme innocence In this Temple vppon this day if there bee found therein or after knowledge bring to light that there might haue beene found therein anye man or creature of the Male kinde it is present death without appeale or iustification In this sorte like the glorious Sunne in his noone-tyde progresse came she tracing along the vallyes her pretty foote scarce pressing downe the flower that it troade vppon But Thirsis eyes which long before had taken a full draught of her beautie being now lightning strooke with the beames of her presence wanting power to retire his soule being retired from al power to cōmand his intendments amazedly stood stil with fixte eyes swolne heart sad thoughts stiffe ioyntes and all the terrors that could accompanye Loue in his desperate estate till Siluagio whose vnrefined spirit did more wonder then retaine the remembrance of what he wondered at awakning Thirsis intranced soule with earnest perswasions desired him once more to incounter the Goddesse of his fortunes alledging that stale hope which is euer most hoplesse that she was a woman and there was no impossibilities But Thirsis who hauing once seene Disdaine carried euer after his remembrance in his bosome like an affrighted child that hides his head when the nurse talkes of a Bugge-beare would faine haue gone aside from his sorrow telling Siluagio it was but labour lost sith both her greatnesse vertue and chast thoughts were in this conflict his mortall enemies But Siluagio taking vpon him the power of Reason to ouerthrow Passiō with a friēdly vpbraiding of Thirsis timerousnesse by no meanes would be withstoode but would force perforce enforce him to meete the Princesse saying who dares not aduenture can neuer attaine neither he which will not hazard vpon peril shall haue the honour of perils ouerthrow therefore aduance thy falne thoughts my Thirsis and pleade their humble seruiceablenesse whilest I with-drawe my selfe into this groaue and pray for thy succeding fortunes At this Siluagio withdrawing himselfe apart yet not so farre but that his eares might haue part of their conference the noble Princesse keeping her direct course and being come euen almost to the place where the loue-thralld Shepheard stoode the poore Swaine most humbly falling vpon his knees gaue her this salutation For euer may the grasse be greene most sacred Nimph which thou treadest vpon with thy more daintie feet and may an eternall Spring flourish in thy walks as thine immortall Beautie flourisheth in the hearts and eyes of all thy beholders To this salute the Princesse in a prettie silent blush giuing him a sleight thanks offered to passe by him as carried away with farre greater deseignes then the note of his fauours But the forlorne Shepheard who before fearing to offend nowe hauing giuen offence imagining Iniurie and it to haue both but one merite staying the Nymph by her sacred garments binding his knees still Apprentices to the base earth thus seconded his former speech after many teares and sighes interruptions Thou onely Superlatiue of all thy sexe euen for thy vertues sake flie not from thy seruants presence but if it be possible that the desperate anguish of my loue may raise any appearance of pittie in the all-sauing Firmament of thy sweete chaste and sober countenacne euen for the honour of thine owne deare name vnto which all the hearts of Kinges are tributarie sende forth some sparke to lighten my darke soule O shunne me not I say alas t' is for the harmelesse Lambe to shunne the deuouring Woolfe you are too fearefull Ladie O you are farre too timerous I am your seruant your vassaile and the worke of your owne eyes making alas I come not to offer violēce but to receiue outrage Deare Goddesse emptie thy Quiuer spend thy Shafts vppon my soule O sticke them vp to the feathers in my heart for well I remember thou diddest long since giue mee that incurable wound which corsiue like eating my heart hath confounded my soule and Reason leauing nothing but thy pittie to call me from eternall bondage O thou immortall mirror where beautie findes out her best beauties thou that art the kingly seat of triumphant loue daine that thy faire eyes which make the morning blush which parch heauen scorch earth fire the woods breakes the frost flowers the earth and turnes the darke night to
exile but his owne resolution him-selfe that is the God of his Fortune and his Resolution a decree like Fate neuer to he controlled Is it likely that he who most preiudicately sawe his owne ill and eschewed it will seeke to reuiue that euill and anew to returne vnto it It cannot be imagined or if it could the vowes he hath throwne throughout the world are impregnable Bulwarkes to withstande his returning hauing sworne by his princely hand neuer againe to beholde Laconia If he then be valiant that spirit will detaine him if he be wise his wisdome will make his vowes lawfull and if he be iust there can no iniustice shine in his actions And to the first let his conquests speake to the next his gouernment and to the last both the world you that are his people Thus is our amends frustrate and Redresse slaine vtterly dead for euer Is it then in your opinions tollerable to loose him to lacke remedie neither to him nor vs yeeld any satisfaction the gods forbid then our satisfaction must be the abolishing of that euill by which our first euill was ingendred which is the life of Hellen euen Hellen the too-early late-crowned Queene of our Country she that hath ouerthrown the goodly temple of her vertue by an inuertuous communicating of those beauties which to him onely should haue bin for euer most dearly preserued she that in her loue hath beene false to Amphyalus dishonorable to herself and an vtter ruine to vs you this country If then you will haue your King restored restore him by her death for in her ending must cōsist the best of his liuing and in this action doth the world infinitely gaze vppon you to see whether any vaine title of beauty or perfections can rebelliously with-draw your minds frō the execution of iustice restore vnto your selues your auncient honours by banishing out of the land your dishonours which is onely she by whom all our infamies are maintained and that this may bee performed by such a direct mean of wel intending that no seuere iudgemēt may attach vs of crueltie thus haue the Senat Lords of Laconia decreed that Hellen shall bee conuaid into a Caruill mastlesse sailelesse vnmand vnuittaild of all munition vnfurnished which being toaed forty leagues into the maine Ocean there be left to the mercy of the gods the seas and her own furtune if she be blameles her preseruation will be doublesse if faulty her end will be swift and without pittie how euer in vs will be nothing but the discharge of a most loyall dutie wherefore as many as loue Amphyalus wish for Amphyalus or hope for the benefite of his blessed sight throw vp their hats as a signe of consent to the execution of this noble iustice The whole assembly whose minds were variously caried vp and and downe with a desire and feare or a fearfull desire to wish nothing that might put them in feare of ensuing good fortune And euen those betwixt whose lippes yet stucke the worde of safetie to the neuer-ill deseruing Queene Hellen were so inchaunted with the plaine Rhetoricke of this honest-seeming Oration that as if all their seuerall bodies had had but one mind that mind one head that head but one tongue to vtter their cogitations cast vp their caps and cried the iudgement was excellent and not to be reuersed all be euen at the beginning of the speech scarce any two agreed one in opinion some consenting more for feare then cōscience some dissenting as much vpon will as loyaltie some to bee reputed strickt performers of Iustice some to bee thought charitable in pittying the innocent some to seeme to vnderstand deeper misteries then were hid in plaine dealing and some to picke a thankes-giuing of such as might pursue like hard fortune All in such mutinie of censures that it was impossible either to discerne Pitie Mercy or Iustice vntill the colours of this speech as alwayes the eyes of common multitude are bleared with showfull reportinges had brought them to concurre and agree in one Opinion and consent of her destruction the fearefull fearing the scourge of disobedience the wilfull willing to haue their willes performed the seuere as delighting in crueltie the charitable for a counterfaite loue to their Country the wise to be renowned for their deepnesse and the flatterers to draw to them a good opinion of well meaning which no sooner was perceiued by the most politike Queene Euronusa whose heart enkindled her braine with a fierie wisedome to see the desperate estate where-unto the ayre of wordes drewe her dearest beloued but breaking through the multitude and opposing face to face with the Nobilitie of Laconia lifting vp a well tuned voyce guarded with so reuerent a countenance of glorious Maiestie as did not onely intice but astonish the beholders drawing their attentions to a silent dumbnes she thus made answere to the former Oration You Princes Lords and Commons of Laconia let neither my presence how greatly so euer at this time inexpected nor my wordes though farre vnsutable to this voluntarie consent you haue giuen for the killing of a worthe innocent breede in you so much wonder as your inconsideracie neuer till this time knowne or attached stirreth in me an admiration beyond the compasse of common admiring the rather when I behold your grauities directed and led by the blinde eye of no reason why whither are your Noble iudgements fled till nowe the Schooles of other Nations where are your faiths where are your loues and where are your wisedomes Are all slaine with insubstantiall wordes with broken arguments and vngrounded supposes O that it were as lawfull for me to chide you as it is most necessarie for your selues in your selues to condemne your selues as blame-worthy you haue this day by your consents hurt onely Amphyalus dishonoured onely Amphyalus and adiudged to death not Hellen but in Hellen the liuing soule of Amphyalus in-so-much that if the backe-looking eye of your vnderstanding doe not recall that vnaduised euill of your too-suddaine verdite it will be too manifestly true as this Gentleman hath ouer-wel deliuered with an ill intention that your losse will bee vnspeakable your redresse vnrecouerable and no satisfaction though the sacrifices of your owne wiues and children will in the eye of the world be esteemed auailable for it is most certaine that in loosing her you loose that Prince that vertue that power that strength that wisdome that honour that Lion that Lambe and that goodnesse he hath spoke of nay that King that hade that ornament that maintenance and colombe of your safeties and more then this and more then hee or I can or haue spoken the diuine father of your kingdome sith the Sacramentall misterie of two moste intirely louing hearts co-vnited and inseparably ioyned together hath made them one flesh one spirit and one bodie so that they are not two but one creature not he Amphyalus but Hellen nor she Hellen but him you seeke to
right gratefully accepted his offer and so after many accōpliments twixt him and the worthie Adunatus they departed on vpon their iourney where hauing past through the Countrey of Lacenia and a great part of Peloponesus without any aduenture worthie noting they came at length to those sands which lie agaynst the I le Cythera from whence by an euen line they may passe to Tenedos there they found attending for the Queene Euronusa sixe Gallies which had formerly wasted her ouer into which so soone as the Queenes were readie to enter the most excellent Adunatus with a countenance as full of Maiestie as loue yet neuer any countenance more dearly beloued humbly besought the Queenes that hee might attende them no further in that iourney but that like an exammated carkas or a soul-lesse man for other he protested he was not he might spend some few dayes in the quest of his friend whose absence was vnto him the absence of all comfort whatsoeuer which friend he saind hee had lost by shipwracke immediately before his incounter with the Queene Euronusa to this intreatie he adioyned a solemne oath and an inuiolable protestation once euer in forty dayes to giue notice to the Queenes where or in what place hee remained that whensoeuer he should bee called eyther by Amphyalus or any other hee woulde bee prepared to giue an account both for his owne and the desolate Queenes fortune The Queenes greeued at his desire yet were loath to grieue at anie thing hee should desire loath in themselues to countermaund any his demaundes yet wishing a power to commaund his demaundings with teares in their eyes the true messengers of their loues and humblenesse in their lookes perfite badges of their obedience they answered him that since in his vertues was the felicitie of their liues and that as lesser Spheares they were onely moued by the power of his greatnesse it became them not eyther to question or contradict onely this they besought him to imagine that his presence was vnto them as the Sunnes faire beames to the storme-wrackt Mariner and his absence like the hower of indurance in the house of affliction but sith his content must be begot by their discontents they were willing to bee pleased with their greatest discomfort Thus after innumerable teares shed and many hearty departures the Queene hauing appointed her choysest Galley to attend the Prince in his iourney giuing him sundry most rich iewels for the testimonies of her friendship they went all aboord the two Queenes and Phalantus directing their iourney for Tenedos the Prince Adunatus holding his course for Cythera and the lower Ilands but there he found nothing but that hee would not haue found a certain absence of his friends presence thence he returned backe into Greece to see if at the Olympian games he were present but the sports were to him wearisome or not at al because Thaumastus was not there at all from the Olympian games hee went to the games Pithii celebrated in the honor of Apollo but foūd them lonely because without his friendes companie from thence to Corinth and to the strait of Isthmus to see if at the games Isthumi founded by Theseus in the honor of Neptune his friend might bee found but no place yeelding him the comfort of his friend he grew comfortlesse in himselfe Thence hee went to the games Nemei thence in Creete to see if at Pirrhus daunce hee were present but finding euerie place as speechlesse as him-selfe was hopelesse hee directed his way-vp into Thessalia where hauing trauailed some fewe dayes hee came to the skirts of the Mountaine Ossa whose well-raised Brow seemed to be a counsell-keeper with the Firmament and whose well proportioned hugenesse and well apparelled beauty testified the great diety of our first grandame Nature Keeping his way by this mountaine he arriued at the head of the riuer Penaus whose smooth delicacie and delicate smoothnesse did forcibly inuite the eye of the traueller to wonder at the smoothnesse Here the Princes horse finding his maisters care carelesse of his labour began to tyre and with a suddaine stop taught him to know that violence is without continuance whereupon the Prince alighting from his backe and plucking off his Bridle gaue him leaue to feede vpon the choysest grasse whilest himselfe withdrawing himselfe into a goodly wood of Pine-trees neare adioyning where thinking to make the neglect of sleepe a comfort to ouer busie care hee began to lay himselfe down vnder the Canopie of a goodly Pine but a little keeping his eyes open that they might after close with more safetie he might beholde hard by him a thicke darke and most obscure groaue where bramble Thorne and Brier had with so many interlacings and interchangeable windings knit co-vnited their branches together that the all-pearcing Sunne had not power to dart his smallest beames through the wydest Casement at this the Prince a little amazedly looking thinking that Nature should not bestow so great Arte vpon so base matter he might behold though halfe obscured with the lesser trees a little Arch which men might imagine a doore yet such a doore as would scarse giue entrance to a Pigmy without stooping so cunningly cut through the middes of the thicket that it gaue the eye a little more liberall passage into the bowels of that night-like darkenesse The Prince wondring at his imaginations which presented him with nothing but imaginarie wonders might at last perceiue come creeping vpon his hands and knees through that little Arch a most decreeped and aged old man who with the help of his Crutch the onely companion of his weakenesse raysing himselfe from the ground he discouered the only Monument of Nature Time and mans weaknesse his bald-head circled with a few milk-white haires and his long gray beard girdling his withered cheekes looked like the flakes of snow vppon the Alpes or Pyreneans his hollow eyes hid in red cabarets neuer weary of weeping for their youthes wantonnesse looked like two decayed Lampes whose Oyle was consumed next his skin he wore haire-cloath for repentance and vpon it a gray gowne for warmth which maintaining life made more large his repētance At his girdle his Beads in his hand a Book whose leaues were worne with often turning and sullied with the teares of his true contrition Thus being come forth to sucke vp the ayre of this wholesome place sitting downe vpon a neighbour banke vnto the groue and lifting his eyes to heauen the Prince might heare him deliuer these or suche like speeches O Ambition thou neighbour vnto Kings companion with greatnes why dost thou bewitch vs with societie yet giuest the first taste of solitarinesse why seekest thou to be alone yet vsurpest on many kingdomes O it is not thy dietie ouer vs but the sickenes of our soules within vs which Reason and Wisedome must cure els can no place or distance recouer thou dost present the shape of lonelinesse to make vs alone miserable But rest with thine vnrest
vnto Thirsis and his vertues called him now foorth to seeke some cure for his friends maladie where-vpon ranging vp and downe through euerie Desart by path and vnfrequented harbour he might at last beholde the most pensiue Shepheard lying vnder the protection of an olde withered Oake whose aged armes being the witnesses of his intollerable woes seemed to be more olde through his lamentings which lamentings made euen the ayre in teares to lament for companie After Siluagio had well vndertaken the sight of the sad Shepheard his eies commaunding his feete to stay least the sodainnesse of his approach might bee stayned with an vnfriendly welcome yet with great priuacie drawing so neare that his eares might be copartners of the wordes which the louing Shepheard deliuered after some little pawse hee might heare him vnto his Pype sing this Sonnet following IN vaine my wittes you labour to excuse The vgly torments of my care-slaine minde Alledging Reasons Reason to abuse Sence made by loue a slaue by passion blinde O wit that dost to appite appeare Like Princes flatterers smooth and delicate Keeping an open passage to that eare Whereto thy Mermaids songs are dedicate Delude me now no more but let me see The naked Image of my forlorne thought Shew me the great woes in my loue which be And those much greater my dispaire hath wrought Nay shew me that which of woes greatest is My follies fault to loue and sure to misse After he had sung this song throwing himselfe vpon the ground and folding his armes one within another he began to complaine in this maner Miserable forlorne and deiected that I am howe oft hath the crie of my complaints and the sad sorrowe of my speech compelled the hard rockes the senselesse trees and the humble shrubbes to a shiuering pittie and how oft alas hast thou my Pype intyced the Valleys Medowes and running Springs with a siluer Eccho to replie vnto my sad sighing and in a murmuring fashion to beare the burden of my lamentation But sith I finde thou hast no power to breath pitty nor sweetnes which may stir coÌ„passion in that most excellent brest whose divine resolutions holds the determination of my life euen as my hart breaks break my Pipe with that breaking his Pipe into as many peeces as his heart was mangled with many tormeÌ„ts he fel into a swouÌ„d which perceiued by Siluagio to whom friendship presented the cause of pittie and pittie the effect of speedie assistance he ranne vnto the Shepheard and folding him in his â—â—â—es after life had got a little vpper hande of passion he spake thus vnto him What meanes my Thirsis these confounding agonies which rather makes thee trouble these fayre springes with the deluge of thy teares then giue comfort to the Skie by thy diuine melodie But Thirsis casting his countenance vpon Siluagio yet such a countenance as rather commanded Pittie to suffer then Wisdome to chide the errour of his passion saide vnto him Ha Siluagio Siluagio I am eueÌ„ like vnto my Pipe whose tune is answerable to the fingers touch when it strikes it for if the touch be smooth soft the hermony is pleasant if rude and rough it iarres distasteth the hearers and so of my selfe My songs are lamentations touched with the bitternesse of sorrows fingers O but yet said Siluagio let me coniure thee first by our loues which euen Sauadges haue accounted an honorable friendship next by the pleasures of our former meetings when with the eagernes of our desires we haue atteÌ„ded the Nimphs in their chasings and lastly for the Muses sakes who as true Mystresses of Memorie inrich thee with those conceites which shall out-liue all remembrances that thou wilt vouchsafe to discharge thy sorowes into my bosom wherin if my counsell cannot amend yet shall not mine endeuours end til I endeuour to end thy misfortune Hee grieues not Siluagio said Thirsis that can tell howe much hee grieueth for heauie cares sit heauye on the soule they be but light shadowes which leape from the tongues vttererance yet if it please thee to sit downe and leane against this tree I will bee content to disclose what to these woodes this banke these bushes yond streames and these Birds I haue long since disclosed onely to no Shepheard it is reuealed and yet me thinkes sith I feele my death so neere t were fitter to conceale my folly and onely graue it in some tender barke by which my bodie shall bee interred that when the Goddesse shall passe by for whose sake I consumed she may tryumphing say Loe heere lyes the victory of mine eyes and my beauties conquest But Siluagio impatient to bee delayed beganne againe to importune him with such vnresistable perswasions that thus in the end Thirsis began to deliuer his fortunes At such time Siluagio as euery Budde began to make his tender leafe appeare vppon the earth and that euery wooddy Querrister skipping from bough to bough chaunted fayre welcomes to the Springes first comming my selfe lying vnder the shadowe of a pretty bush tuning my Pype to the delicacye of their sweete notes made in my conceite so harmonious a consort betwixt Arte and Nature that the poore fooles in their contentment seemed to play and daunce about me In the midst of this sportiue merryment like a nimble Roe came the fayre Milidora tripping by her hayre in most louely quantity hanging about her shoulders which the windes being in loue withal most sweetely kissing not rudely stirring seemed in their gentile motion to quiuer like the Aspen leaues as I perceiued shee came for counsaile to a holy Fountaine hard by to tye them all vp againe in a well ordered proportion which doone she cast a vaile of siluer ouer the rich Mine of that golden treasure and bordering that vaile with a Corronet of all the flowers that euer Mother-nature could boast of for eyther smell or colour shee seemed in mine eye much brauer and more sumptuously adorned then eyther Iunoes Byrde or the statue of Venus O how me thought the Sunne did stoppe stand still admyre and gazing seemed euer desirous to gaze vppon her the stately Trees bow'd their tall heades to honour her that gaue an honour both to the heauenly and earthly mansion her beautye me thought was the spring time to our Fieldes the comforte to our Flockes and the onely foode to the soules of men liuing But whilst in the gloriousnesse of this eternall glory shee trac'd about the banke of the fountaine viewing her face in the christall water mee thought I sawe a blush like lightning breake from the skye of her countenance and she smil'd to see how the beautye of her face staynd all the other beautyes with which she was adorned whereby she appear'd to say thus within her selfe Alas I sticke not these flowers about me to adorne my beauty but to disgrace their owne glories when euery creature shall beholde how exceedingly I exceede them But see alas Siluagio whilst thus my labouring imagination
better to abridge my dayes Then vrge her more to saue my life O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower How crosse hath heauen beene to my fate Since first I got the vse of breath She that me loues alas I hate She that I loue desires my death O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Cruell Loue why didst thou strike me With a Dart so full of woe If both my euer doe dislike thee Nor my life thou wilt let goe O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower What bootes it thee to see me beare This raging fire in which I burne But that to men it may appeare What fortunes thou canst ouerturne O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Yet if thou ru'st on any smart Rue on my woe that wofull is But thou hast an obdurate hart And stonie minds wants Pitties blisse O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Alas why shouldst thy chast faire sight His glorie gaine by killing me And so against all law and right Win an abusiue victorie O Apheliea thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower Why didst thou giue life to my flame If hope to kill were thy regard What worser chance can crowne thy name Then still to loue and lacke reward O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deathes hower And shall the showers of teares I show Gaine no remorse for all my smart Alas sterne Loue doth answere No For why he dare not touch her hart O Apheleia thy loues power Is my liues date and my deaths hower It is in vaine I am asham'd That thus I seeke cure for my griefe For hearts that are inhumane fram'd Loue woe so well they hate reliefe O Apheleia thy loues power Is Diatassans dying howers The Princesse attentiuely hearing this song but not seeing the singer after her eares had drunke the sounde of her Shepheards name coupled with another as she thought much vnworthie of so hie preheminence as if all such adoration had beene most damnable blasphemies all-bee the sound did not chalenge anie thing from his voyce yet restlesse Iealousie strake such strange fire into her bosome that not able to containe her selfe she came foorth of the Arbour with a more then vsuall haste Anger making the Lillies of her face couer all the Roses But when shee sawe the deceyte and that it was but onelie the Nymph Ethera newe Gilliflowers springing about the Throne of Roses smiling vpon the Nymph she said I am glad my Ethera that thy pleasant free thoughts stirring vp thy siluer voice will giue vs the comfort of thy song beleeue mee I feard thy last affright would haue robbed both from thee and me all taste of solitarie pleasure But I pray thee fayre Nymph tell me what song was this which thou didst euen now so passionately vtter was it of thine owne or of others composing The Nymph Ethera with a downe-cast looke and an humble reuerence teaching her cheekes so artificiall a blush as might verie well deceiue Nature bowing herselfe before the Princesse and first crauing pardon for her bolde presumption in that shee had come so neare the place of her priuate retiring assuring her with many prettie protestations that she was vtterly ignorant of her there aboade in the ende shee tolde the Princesse that for the song which shee had sung it was none of her owne inuention but made by the famous Shepheard Diatassan in honour of the loue hee bare to the faire Nymph Apheleia which she of late hearing had now newly bequeathed to memorie O God! had the Nymph Ethera out of an implacable anger taken a vow vtterly to haue confounded the Princesse or had the Princesse beene the vtter confusion of all the generation from whence the Nymph was descended had the Princesse beene her riuall in affection the barre to her desires or had the Princesse said what no woman can endure to haue saide that shee had not beene faire shee coulde neither haue founde a more readie poyson nor a more sharpe reuenge then the vtterance of these wordes which shee deliuered they were Daggers in the Princesse heart they were woundes in her soule and liuing deathes of dying liues anguish what passion was there with which shee did not communicate what feare what distrust what iealousie what madnesse what amazement and what else that may take vpon it the name of absolute euill But in the ende Reason that could neuer indure that such euils as these should become maisters of his fairest habitation but like Carniuall masquers to haue onely a moments entertainment and no further summoning his best accomplices as Vertue Constancie Consideration and such like beganne to warre agaynst the former with these arguments First she called to minde the vertue of his former life his innocent thoughts his plaine dealing tongue and his vndisembling actions the seueritie of his gouernment giuing no libertie to inconstancie and his honourable imitations being euen assurances of the best goodnesse insomuch that Passion being accompanied with his onely companion easie beliefe and both they attended on by Anger their seruant casting a threatning cloude ouer the chearefull Firmament of her diuine lookes shee thus spake to the Nymph Ethera Well I perceiue than the vse of sinne brings the Euill both to a delight and easinesse in sinne nothing in them augmenting their ripenesse more then the warmth of their owne wickednesse of this hath thine immodestie giuen mee a double experience thy first vnchast perswasions being now seconded with a most shamefull slaunder lightnesse and impudencie striuing how to create murther O Ethera thou art doublie vnkinde vnkind to vertue the shadow of whose countenance hath brought thee to much honour but most vnkinde to truth whom thou seekest to kill with a false witnesse be thy folly therfore thy scourge and both my hate and refusals of thy counsels profes of that detestation wherein I holde thee hencefoorth I charge thee neither to frequent these walkes nor acknowledge my memorie but liuing an eternall exile complaine to the worlde what woes falshoode and shame haue brought vpon thee Alas poore Diatassan the vertue hath begot thee infinite enuie and thine imaginarie happinesse seekes to inrich thee with most cottaine mischiefe but thy goodnesse hath taken such well grounded roote in mine vnderstanding that nothing shall draw from thee the blisse of my good opinion liue but as happie as thou art constant and euen Angels shall finde want in thine vnbounded prospetiue And as she spake these words tears rising in her eyes as it were to make a question in the worlde which were the more purer Diamonds she offered to depart But the Nymph after the custome of disgrast Tragedians whose first act is entertained with a snakie salutation falling vpon her knees and staying her by her garments with all the humilitie that either Art