and true love that by reason thereof I am fallen into the misery in which I now finde my selfe at this present Now continuing the history of my life you shall know that Lexanders father called Filene sometimes frequented my fathers house by reason of certain businesse that my father and he had betwéen them concerning Oxen and Kyne and séeing me although he was something old yet he fell in love with me and that so greatly that he became foolish mad and frantick He became so importunate unto me and troubling me above a thousand times daily declared me his passions grief but all could not help For I would never give eare to his prattle nor mark what he said and though he had been much younger or lesse aged and by many parts more perfect then he was yet for him could I not have forgotten his son Lexander who had so won my heart that I had wholly given him the possession thereof The old man knew not what friendship was between his son and me for Lexander was so obeysant and dutifull that he behaved himself secretly in wooing me least his father knowing thereof should have rebuked him and have occasion to be angry with him And in like manner was Lexander altogether ignorant of his fathers folly who because he should not give his son example of lightnesse took all the regard he might to his love from him Neverthelesse the foolish cocks-comb ceased not to molest me with importunate requests to take him to my husband He made me wonderful large proffers he promised to give me many cloathes and jewels and he sent me many Letters hoping thereby to change my mind In his time he had been a Shepheard most excellently qualified eloquent in spéech and witty which you may easily gather by a Letter which he wrote me as I yet remember Filene to Ismenia FAir Shepheard love is cause of all such fault as I can commit in writing unto hoping that I have not commited any in loving you And if perhaps my Letter be troublesome unto you believe certainly that I already fear the answer you will make I have a thousand times signified and declared unto you what affection I bear you and in recompence thereof you take pleasure in mocking me You openly laugh at me to see me like to dye for love of you but as for me I am glad to see you laugh though it be to my ruine and destruction For when I remember and think of my evil and see that you take pleasure therein rejoycing at my misery I perceive that you will not remedy my grief insomuch that it were an exceeding folly for me to regard your mocking seeing that my life and death consisteth in you to dispose of me as you please If you ask why I should love you I answer because I am forced and cannot but love you insomuch that though I might live and not love you yet I had rather to dye then so to live for when I remember your graces and perfections I cannot but judge them happier that die for love of you then those that can behold you without admiring your exceeding vertues for I cannot be perswaded that a man may die more happily then he who loseth his life by reason of such heavenly beauty as yours which hath so pierced my breast that I am not mine own but yours for as soon as I saw you I began to love and to pine for grief And if you say that I am to be blamed because I am amourous and yet old in that respect I sue for remedy unto you seeing that I have not so greatly offended in loving you as in knowing you so late For I acknowledge that I am old and I am not a little grieved that this my pain is not as ancient as the course of my age and I am sorry that I might not have loved you from the first day that I was born as well as since the first hour that I saw you certifying you that this love shall dure and continue till death Marvel not sweet to see me grey and wrinkled and though you surpass me in valour yet I think it but small reason that a man should lose his pay and salary under this colour that he is an old Souldier The new built houses are not comparable to the ancient buildings of Rome and commonly all men alwayes say that among all things the old is the best Love would not untill this present time make me feel the pinching pain of amorous passions because he well knew that affection was more firm and fancy less fickle in an old man as I am then in tender age where every look is love and every face a new fancy I am firm and constant to love you for ever and old never to be loved as long as I live Young men that say they love are double and subtle they fain but not fancy their forehead is marked with Venus badge but their heart never felt Cupids shaft And when they plead for mercy alledging that they dye for love then are they less subject to passion most free from fancy Their changeable affection is assured liberty their passion pastime their love a custome and not a pain Think not sweet that I am like the amourous youth who having received a favour of his mistress vaunteth and boasteth thereof to all the world for though I had received ten thousand I should be as constant and firme in keeping them secret But as I see you disposed and bent to work my death I fear that I shall endure much torment and have occasion to say little and brag less yet the chiefest favour whereof I may boast is to die for the love of Ismenia With what great reason may I find fault with the time considering that I who love you most am least esteemed But alas I loved you too late and seeing I was not born at the same time that you were it is reason that I should dye for love of you Ah fair Shepheardess had my Fortune been such that I might have been of your time I had had that which had been sufficient to win your love and to deserve favour of you for though it becommeth no man to blaze his owne praises yet affection forceth me to say that among all the young men of our time none might compare with me at dancing leaping foot-ball hand-ball bowle bow cithren pipe flute and all such kinds of exercise wherewith our Countrey youths recreate themselves and win the hearts of their mistresses But ah cruell chance what serveth either that which is or that which hath been unto him poor wretch that is buried in the bowels of forgetfulness because he is neer unto his death In the mean time may it please you to consider by that which I have said that the glory of your perfection which at this present maketh you famous to all the countrey shall finally fade as the pride of the sweet violet decaieth with the
fall of the Sommer Now you are hard as a rock and cruel but when you shall be overtaken with age then shall you want the liberty and force wherewith now you disdain me For this is the revenge which love taketh of you that he then bringeth you into deadly pain and torments when hope beginneth to fail you Filene sent me this Letter and many more with other Songs and Sonnets wherewith if I had bin as greatly moved as contented and delighted he had Iudged himself happy and had been ill wedded but it was impossible to finde any where means whereby the picture and image of my beloved Lexander might be rased out of my heart For he so pleased me and was so constant and perfect in love that his wil and mine was but one will his word and mine one word and his heart and mine one heart Never did he perform less in deed then in word he promised His doings were alwaies correspondent to his sayings And as for me what Lexander liked I could not mislike and whatsoever displeased him was horrible to Ismenia In this pleasant life and sweet concord having passed certain years we purposed to confirm and establish our content and to signe our wished desire with the seale of honest and chaste marriage And although Lexander before he would take me to his wife intended to speak unto his father first and to ask his consent as it beséemed an obedient son to do yet when I had advertised him how that his father would not be willing to agrée unto that match by reason of the foolish desire he had himself to take me in marriage he estéeming more of his own content and the estate of his own life then of his due obeysance towards his father concealed the matter So that this unfortunate marriage was made with the consent and good will of my father at whose house the wedding was kept where there was such feasts games sports and pastimes held in respect of our marriage that it was spoken of in all the Boroughs and Villages thereabout When the amorous old man knew that his own son had deprived him of his love he became so furious against Lexander and me that he hated us both and abhorred us worse then death it self in such manner that he would never after sée us or come néer us On the other side a certain shepheardess of the same vilage called Felisarde who so fancied Lexander that she almost fell mad for love of him who made no account of her by reason that he loved me so well and because she was an elderly Maid and nothing well complexioned séeing that he whom she so dearly loved had wedded me almost fell into dispair In so much that our marriage bred us two deadly enemies The angry old man to have occasion to disinherit his son determined to marry some fair young woman by whom he might have children but though he was excéeding rich yet all the shepheards of our country disdained to be married unto him except Felisarde onely who to have opportunity to allure my husband to her unlawfull and dishonest lust for she had not as yet forgotten the love of Lexander willingly took old Filene to her husband She had not long time béen married but she began to practise meanes to gain the love of my husband and for that intent she sent a Maid that served her called Sylveria unto Lexander to tell him that if he would grant her her will she would obtain pardon for him from his father and besides she would do him much pleasure and shew him great favour but she could never corrupt him with all her large proffers and fair promises to consent to her wicked wil wherefore she considering that she was so despised and so little regarded of Lexander began mortally to hate him and endevoured continually to move her husband more and more to indignation against his son Neither was she content with that but determined also to practise a strange and villanous treason against us both for she had in such a maner won the heart of Sylveria her maid by reason of her flattering promises and other favours which she had done her that she was ready to do whatsoever she would have her although it had been against Lexander whom she respected for the time that she had served in his fathers house So that they secretly consulted among themselves how they might be revenged of me and at the hour appointed for the execution thereof Sylveria went forth of the Village and comming to a certain Gréen néere the River where Lexander used to féed his shéep she stepped unto him and with a troubled countenance as if she had some matter of great importance to tell him spake unto him in this maner Ah Lexander how well and prudently have you done in eschuing the love of your wicked mother in law unto which although I sometimes encited you yet know that I did so by reason of her importunate requests but now I know how the matter standeth she shall not be able any more to make me the messenger of her dishonesties I am acquainted with some of her secrets that concern her nearly and are such that if you knew them although your father be so cruell unto you yet would you not leave to hazard your life for his honour I will not say any more because I know you to be so wise and indued with such discretion that it shall not be necessary for me to use many words and reasons in your behalf Lexander being astonished to hear her talk in this order misdoubted some dishonesty of his step-mother But to know the truth and to be throughly informed he desired Sylveria openly to shew him all the matter and to let him hear what it was that she knew of Fehsarde her mistresse At first she would be prayed séeming to be unwilling to disclose a matter so secret but at length she declaring that unto Lexander which he demanded of her and which she so greatly desired to tell him stuffed him with a lie most notably well forged and contrived Saying and considering that it is a matter of great weight both unto your self and your father Filene in like manner to know that which I know I will most plainly declare it unto you assuring my self that you will not let any man know how that I have discovered this secret unto you You shall understand that your mother in law Felisarde hath purposed to defile your fathers bed with a certain shepheard whose name I will not tell you séeing it lyeth in you to know him if you please for if you will come this evening and enter into that place where I will lead you you shall finde the Traitress with the Adulterer in your fathers house for they have so appointed it because that Filene your father doth this night lye abroad and doth not returne till to morrow about midday by reason of certain affaires moving him thereto Therefore prepare your self
if you will follow my counsaile and about eleven of the clock at night come unto me to our house where I will bring you to the place where you may easily do that which you shall think convenient for the honor and credit of your father and by meanes whereof you may also be reconciled unto him Sylveria said all this dissembling so cunningly that Lexander resolved to put himself in danger to be revenged of him that thought so fouly to dishonour his father And thus the traitress Sylveria glad that she had deceived my husband by the counsel of Felisarde returned home to let Felisarde know the effect of her talk with Lexander and what he appointed to do CHAP. IX How Lexander through the treachery of Felisarde and Sylveria would have slain his father and what ensued thereon THe obscure night had not so soon vayled the aire with the curtain of darkness but Lexander comming to the Village and taking a dagger which he had gotten by the decease of his Vncle Palemon went just at eleven of the clock at night to his fathers house where Sylveria expected him according as they had ordained Where was ever such treason seen Or where such malice thought She took him by the innocent hand and ascending the staires as softly as they might she led him to the chamber doore where Filene his father lay with Felisarde asleep when she had brought him there she said Lo Lexander now are you in place where you ought to have your heart and hand required in such a case Enter into this chamber and ther◠you shal finde your step-mother in bed with the adulterer With that she got away and retired as swift as she could Lexander being deceived by that dissembling traitress gave faith to her words and incouraging himself drew his Punyard and having thrust open the doore with his foot entered into the Chamber like a furious man and being inraged with a loud voyce uttered these words Traytor I will presently make thée dye the loves of Felisarde shall but little availe thée nay they shall be the cause of thy death and ruine And so saying altogether enraged and not knowing who was in bed with Felisarde his stepmother lifted up his hand to clap his weapon into his fathers brest but as Fortune would have it old Filene knew his son by reason of the light which was in the chamber and thinking that Lexander purposely came to kill him because he had so ill used him both in word and déed sate upright in his bed and crossing his arms spake thus unto Lexander Ah my son what cruelty moveth thee to become the butcher of thy natural father Call your judgement and enter into your wits again and seek not to shed my blood or tearm my life with so tragical an end For if I have been something rigorous unto you and unnaturally dealt with you being my son I crave pardon intending to become most favourable unto you ever hereafter When Lexander perceived the treason of Sylveria which had almost been cause that he had slain his own father he fell into such an extasie that his force failed him and his dagger fell out of his hand without his knowledge for he was so amazed of the treason which he had committed against his father had not God provided the contrary that he could not feel his weapon drop out of his hand but altogether troubled and confounded like a man that was bereft of all his sences went presently out of the chamber and out of his house Felisarde knowing what should chance that night watched for the comming of Lexander who was no sooner entred in the chamber but she leaping out of her bed fled into a more inward and back room where barring up the door she fréed and exempted her self from the fury and anger of Lexander But when she saw that he was departed and by reason thereof she out of danger returning to her bed where Filene lay trembling at the peril which he had so wonderfully escaped she began to stir up her husband against Lexander his son exclaiming in this manner O Filene now may you sée what a son you have and know that to be most true which I so often have admonished you concerning his evil nature and inclination O cruel Lexander O traytor Lexander how commeth it to passe that Heaven doth not confound thée why doth not the earth open and swallow thée up into her bowels why do not the brute beasts tear thée to pieces and why do not all men persecute thee and punish thee according to thy heinous actions Accursed be thy mariage accursed be thy disobeisance accursed be thy loves and accursed be thy Ismenia séeing that she hath inticed thée to execute such a cruel act and abhominable déed Ah Traitor thou hast not chastised the shepheard Alanio who unto thy great dishonour and shame hath dishonestly haunted and entertained thy wife Ismenia whom she loveth better then thy self and yet thou wouldest kill massacre thy owne father who alwayes hath made great account of thy life honor and credit Ah unhappy father Ah unfortunate old man what fault hast thou committed so great as to be slain and murthered by thy son by him whom thou hast engendred whom thou hast brought up and nourished And for whom thou hast suffered a thousand troubles Now therfore take heart cease henceforth to bear him any more love or affection commit him to the rigor of the law that he may be punished as he hath deserved for if he that hath committed so execrable an offence escape due punishment every disobedient child will be emboldened and unfearful and thine at length will in good earnest lay hands on thée to shorten the course of thy odious life Sorrowful and troubled Filene altogether amazed and fearful hearing his wives voyce and weighing the horrible treason which his son had thought to commit upon his person became so angry that taking up the dagger which Lexander as I told you had let fall out of his hand went forth as soon as the day appeared to assemble the Iustices of peace and chiefest of the Village together in the criminal Court where he with aboundance of teares flowing out of his eyes spake unto them in this manner I call God to witnesse most excellent shepheards that I am so grieved with that which I am to declare unto you that I greatly fear lest my spirit and breath faile me before I have opened the matter unto you Especially séeing it is such that I may be estéemed most cruel in that I publikely complain of my son expounding his misdeeds and wickednes unto you which being so strange that I know not how it may be accordingly punished and chastised I beseech you to see what is convenient to be done in this case to prescribe him such and so just a punishment that other children may thereby take a manifest example how to behave themselvs towards their parents Ye know very well that
some other time whensoever it shall please your worthinesse to hear the rest opportunity being thereto offered The Dutchesse Brisil with the other Ladies Gentlemen and shepheards thanking Philorenus assured him that he had done them a pleasure more then mean in that he had taken so much pain as to delight them with that rehearsal of his own fortunes promising that he should find them as ready to pleasure him But the Dutchesse above the rest told him that she hoped as he had begun to delight her with the beginning of his history so he would work the perfection of her delight so begun with the end of the same occasion presenting time and place fit for the purpose as he had promised And therewith they went altogether into the palace where the Lady Felicia meeting them at the garden dore most courteously saluting them being by them saluted first the Dutchess Brisil old Eugerio next then Marcelio and his Alcida with her brother Polydor and his sister Clenarde and so Lexander with his Ismenia and then Philorenus with his Petulca and the rest of the company which courteously finished she led them all into a fair stateÌ„ly hall most sumptuously and gorgeously furnished where the cloth was laid for that the evening bringing something too cold an air with it she thought it better to sup there then in the bower in the garden where they had dined While supper continued the Nymph Arethea sung this sonnet to the sound of her Lute Arethea MY song is love yet strange love not mine own And though I love not yet my tongue will spend In praise of love though many that alone Which theirs is will vouchsafe for to commend But now my thoughts from passions being free My words as true as truth it self shall be Love is the thing through which all men have being Love is the thing which mankind doth preserve Love is the cause of heavens and earths agreeing Love is the Lord whom Gods and men do serve Love is the knot wich sexes doth unite Love in estate maintaineth every wight Love is the tool which finest wits doth file Love unto worthy things mens hearts doth bind Love frames the tongue to use a flowing stile Love is the touchstone of a verâ—tuous mind Love is the spur to valorous exploits Love doth exalt thy mind to heavenly thoughts Love is the joy wherein Lordings delight In Love do Ladies think the time well spent In all is love a comely courteous sight In men a grace in maids an ornament All this of Love and more if more may be I know though nothing Love doth know of me Arethea having ended her Sonnet the Lady Felicia asked Perierio how he liked it and whether he thought not that lovers were beholding unto her for so extolling the Saint that ruleth their affection But he framed her this answer Divine Lady your Nymphs Encomion of love hath so swéetly toucht mine ears that they most willingly and readily carried the meaning of her spéeches to my mind who receiving them with no lesse delight was moved to think so well of them that it now comandeth my tongue to let you understand And in truth Madam as I am glad that I now love not in respect of divers circumstances so I should be singularly sorry if I thought I should never love again And more directly to answer your question I think my self not a little beholding to Arethea for esteeming so much of Love onely for that I have once loved much more think I will such as now féel the fire of fancy glowing in their hearts make account of her for making such account of that wherein they have placed their chief felicity CHAP. XXXVII The dispute which happened between Perierio and the Dutchesse Brisil occasioned by the Song of the Nymph Arethea in commendation of Love ALL the company hearing Periecrio speak in this manner marvelled at the same for they knew nothing how the Lady Felicia had used him in her study by giving him the drink of oblivion And therefore they were amazed to see Perierio a man before so full of melancholy and so pathetical now so freely speak of Love as one not now in Love whereunto he was before so earnestly addicted that he seemed to be bound apprentice unto it for ever But among the rest the Lady Brisil spake unto him in this manner But I pray you sir you that ere while so furiously loved are the hot flees wherein you so madly flamed already quenched yet they seemed unextinguishâ—ble I think they be fair Princesse answered Perierio for they are not quenched but allayed and in this degree it is that I commend love and no doubt but Arethea so thought of it when she so effectually describe it Yet am not I of the opinion answered the Dutchess for that were neither hot nor cold whereas if love should do and cause all those worthy things which Arethea attributeth unto it no doubt it must be extended to some extream point or else how should it be able to work so many excellent matters as she speaketh of nay rather as truth it self averreth even by the mouth of all such as know the excellency of love You say well quoth Perierio but yet I hope you will likewise grant that as in all other vertues so in love also there may be an extremity in excesse which is a vice and not to be defended An extremity quoth Brisil I grant in this that one may love too coldly but too hotly one cannot in my mind For seeing love is commendable as none here gain-say it the more one doth love the more doth he that which is worthy of commendation how shal we then blame him as doing that which is vicious For love is not to be considered as liberallity or other vertues for being too easie in giving and bestowing as more then one is able he falleth from liberallity and cannot be accounted to be liberall but prodigall in that he lavishly maketh havock of more then his ability well can allow or reason perswade him But love the more it possesseth man the more he loveth and the more he loveth the more he possesseth For though by being liberal without measurs that ability waineth and riches decay yet by loving how extraordinarily soever love never waxeth lesse nay increaseth For the more one loveth the more still doth his power to love grow and the more able doth he become to love And so long cannot he fall from love and be accounted no lover as they that by too much spending fall from â—eing too liberall to become prodigall Nay but quoth Peâ—â—â—â—o by loving without reason do we fall from love to madnesse for frantick I account that love which is not guided by reason By reason quoth the Dutchess why love is too noble a thing to be â—iâ—d to any respect either of reason or any other thing 〈…〉 For love being considered in it self is a certain kind of moâ—iâ—â—â—f the mind which moveth of it self and
will not be subject unto any part of the mind and I hold opinion thâ—â— reason is governed of love and not love guided by reason For when love hath once taken hold of the heart when it thinketh good it calleth for the counsell and assistance of reason but otherwise it will not wait or attend upon reason to be directed by it Neither do I judge them to be reasonable lovers that in love take counsel of reason or go about to love with reason For they that love indéed unlesse they do many ways surpasse that which reason teacheth them or do more then by reason they are moved to do I think their love to be but of a small account and scarce to be called love And not to fetch any instance a far of but even from your self if you had not left your father and your sisters as I have heard you say to séek the Lady in whose beauty your soul danced and forsaken your country for so I call the place where your dwelling was planted to travel through desart places and unknown regions to find out her who was cause that you lost your self no doubt you would not have thought that you had loved nor any man else would have said that you had done so And yet if you had hearkened to reason undoubtedly you had not left your aged father and comfortlesse sisters deprived of your company to seek the company of the Lady who fled your company for reason would have conducted an whole army of arguments to disswade you from that enterprise which would have been nothing else but to force you to cease from love For certainly had you stayed at home you had either not loved at all or at least but very little béen troubled with passion Insomuch that you sée how that reason and love cannot agrée together for they are opposite enemies one to the other And therefore I cannot see what love it is that thou say thou would have guided by reason That love Madam quoth Perierio which I onely account love and not I onely but all such as will not disgrace the excellency of so worthy a thing as love is For to let you know how I would have love guided with reason I understand the matter so that I would have them that love therein to shuâ— such inconveniences as bréed shame infamy and reproach unto them that love if they be not avoided As to love that which ought not to be loved as Pasiphae loved the Bul by whom she bore Minotaurus many other things which might be considered which onely can be judged by the rule of reason Besides I remember many that describe love whose descriptions I like not for my part say that love is full of dissembling hypocrisie strife debate brawling vice offence quarrelling envy hate jealousie murther prodigality gréedinesse covetousness anger and many other mischievous inconveniences which I think one that loves may very well avoid all I mean by the help and counsel of reason which tells us that they ought to be shunned Why but good sir quoth the Dutchess that love whereof you talk is not love but lust the gulph of all mischief for lust is subject to all such vices and more but not love Why then inferred Perierio must you grant that love not limited by reason is lust Nothing so quoth the Dutchess for love in the very nature and essence therof considered otherwise it is diversly taken is a knot or bond which tieth knitteth and uniteth two hearts inseparably and maketh them one insomuch that love it self so considered to attain to the very purity and singularity thereof is to endeavour and labor by al means whatsoever to the making of them Two hearts One and to that one thing must all actions be directed Insomuch I say that such persons as will claim the right title of lovers must neither be feared with dangers nor driven back by force nor chased with terrour nor removed with reason from endevouring and working to make themselves deserve to be inseparably joyned with that which they love and to become as the same thing it self and one thing with it Wherein I pray you cannot this be the onely and very force of love and not of lust Very well Madam quoth Perierio So sir quoth she I pray you have you forgotten that you even now said that you accounted all love not guided by reason lust which how grossely it was spoken I will thus with one small example make you confess your self Put case the Duke of Florence loveth some Lady either for her beauty grace comliness vertue or other gifts by God and nature bestowed on her which Lady he cannot enjoy as his own I mean have her heart united to his as his is tied to hers and be loved of her as he loveth her for there must be reciprocation in love unless he spend all his Revenues his Dukedome and afterward having obtained his hearts desire of her and hath of her heart and his made but one yet cannot enjâ—y her by reason of her parents that for one reason or other would have her either married to some other or rather not married at all then to him and so lives still in body separated from her though in heart and soul never but by her his Dukedome gone and all his wealth consumed thinking the jewel which he hath thereby gotten of a higher price then all his substance I mean the love of his Lady being onely content with this that she loves him Now let me ask you this question would not reason if the Duke had guided his love by the rational measure of his understanding have counselled him not to lose his credit his wealth his renown and not to have undone himself for that which he might not fully enjoy though he enjoyed as he desired It may be so Madam quoth Perierio but what then Marry this quoth she Then his love was not guided by reason yet there is no man that will nay can say but that it was pure love not spotted with the blot of any lust and therefore against your former principle are you forced to confess that all love not guided by reason is not lust Perierio marking the subtilty of the Dutchess in taking hold of his words and going about to canvas him that way séeing she could not go through with her matter which was to prove that no love could be too extream great and that upright love was not to be guided or governed by reason he unwilling to let her yet so carry it away made answer thus Many things may be spoken which divers ways are to be understood For sometimes things properly taken are improperly applied to sundry purposes And so when I said that love not not guided by reâ—son was lust I understood not lust as it is properly taken for the carnal desire and libidinous cipidity of the flesh â—ut rather for the vice which is committed by desiring that which ones affections urge him to covet and
with a pain the like never heard of before The dart penetrated into the very inmost part of my heart and forced me to yéeld to love Séeing then I love and am inroled in the scrowl of those that follow thy bands as a true and valerous Captain lead me to the knowledge of that which I love For I doubt nut but that thou which hast had the puissance to make me love and that so strangely art likewise able to make me know whom I love Thus Perierio after that he had with many sighs and tears bewailed the losse of his former fréedome began at length to consider that the accustomed hour of his returning to dinner was past and therfore least his father should marvell at his long absence and by reason thereof fall into suspition least some mischance had befallen him for old men are always carefull of their children and as often as they be out of sight so often do they déem them to be lost he more like a shadow then a man crossed the nearest way homewards Where he found his aged father sléeping for the heavinesse he was in by reason of Perierios absence rocked him a sleep but as soon as he heard Perierio he awaked and then they fell closely to their chear though Perierios mind ran more on his unknown mistresse then his present meat Whilest that these two were at dinner Euphilia and Perina to shunne the extream heat of Phoebus mounted in his Meridian pride went with their sheep towards the Wood side to take the advantage of the high trees which yeelded a most pleasant shadow Where they sitting together began to take their Oaten Pipes and sing Euphilia began in this manner Whilest Thaetons sage fire his scorching beams On th' earth doth cast and move the sacred crue Of Nymphs most chaste to seek the silver streams Therein to bath their hands of Christall hue My Pipe shall move the air with her sound To send down drops and wet the scorched ground Perina Whilest bright Apollo in his highest seat With fiery lines doth burn the tender grasse My notes shall pierce the skies and Iove intreat To bid the winds represse their furious blasts That sweetly breathing on us in the field The glittering leaves a pleasant noise may yeeld Euphilia The chirping birds now do moiest the air And to the clouds complain of summers heat The hunter ceaseth to pursue the hare And fowls do leave their prey for fainting sweat Now therefore shall my voice the skies ascend To move the Gods this harmfull heat to mend Perina Now do the simple sheep to shadow flie The Traveller by Cinthia's light is lead To shun the rays which sparkling down the skie Proceed from fiery Phoebus golden head My Pipe shall therefore to the clouds complain Resolving them in showers of wished rain What an excellent matter is it said Euphilia sister Perina that we here leading this Country life and being separated from the noise and tempestuous uproars and broyls which commonly are raised in the proud Courts of Princes should injoy such extream pleasure as we do in these pleasant groves sometimes being in the shadow sometimes sitting on the banks of the delectable River and sometimes walking in the dark groves where we both fence our faces from Phoebus injury and delight our ears with the naturall Musick of the singing birds I promise you truly quoth Perina I am of opinion that the noise which the wind maketh among the trées doth delight and recreate the hearts of men more then the fond noise of some people when there is a great assembly For there the greatest pleasure is meer grief proud Majesty and highnesse nothing else but vanity feasts and games nothing but troubles and tempests honour and renown nothing but blind errours and most commonly we find that among them that delight in that kind of life words and thoughts are different the tongue pronouncing otherwise then the heart meaneth But here said Euphilia ambition layeth not her bait neither hath avarice or covetousnesse any place here The people doth not here aspire to honours nor sue for dignities but men live free from passions and perturbations in al virtue and simplicity Here reigneth little or no malice but all things are ruled by justice Neither doth the simple shepheard quoth Perina séek out new parts of the world nor adventure into strange Countries committing himself neither to the cruell furious winds nor unmercifull waves to enlarge his treasure or augment his riches And yet he liveth as contentedly with that little which he hath as he that doth abound in rich possessions and great revenues CHAP. III. How Marcelio came to the house of Camillo and of the strange advenutres that befell him in his love ro Alcida AS Euphilia and her sister were thus discoursing they séemed to hear the voice of some distressed person and Euphilia arising espied a shepheard resting his back against the trunk of a trée but she hoping to gather the sum of his grief by the sense of his complaint steeped immediately applying her ear to the shepheards words which were not unlike to these Ah love thou canst not invent any worse torment then I feel nor thou fortune canst be more variable and inconstant then thou art unto me And it is impossible to find a heart so bereft of all hope and yet so content in suffering pain as mine whereof love is the onely cause which upholdeth my languishing breath to the end that I may indure the grief which continually vexeth me But when shall my tears and life take end when shall my torment cease when shall my sighs bring forth my heart with them And therewith he took his way straight towards the place where Euphilia and Perina sate Whither he arrived so sorrowfull so weary and so grieved that it seemed that fortune pittying his case had purposely sent him to that place to comfort him and asswage his dolours nâ—t onely vp means of the clear water which did spring out of the founâ— in whither the shepheards accustomed to lead their sheep to drink but also by reason of the pleasantnesse of the place the shadow of the trees and exceeding beauty of these two noble shepheards In so much that all these things caused him to think that he had received some solace though the importance of that which he sought and the desire he had to find the same gave him no leisure to rest in that place Yet was he being a stranger so curtuously entertained by the two sisters that he deemed himself not a little happy to have lighted on such company Wherefore he being intreated by them to go with them to their lodging to eat something and to refresh himself with such dainties as their country manner afforded could not but grant their request and so followed them unto their fathers house Where he was received of aged Camillo and his son not as a stranger but as one that had been of their near kindred and affinity
For they marking his singular beauty and perfection of body his excellent grace in speaking his sharp wit and his comely behaviour thought him worthy of all the curtesie they could imagine to shew him Supper being done old Camillo took his leave of the strange shepheard and went to his rest But Perierio and his sisters keeping the shepheard company led him into the Orchard to take the evening air after that Phoebus had shut up his light in the Western parts And Euphilia desirous to know what sinister chance had brought the shepheard into such a Chaos of cares and world of sorrows began thus to be inquisitive of his fortune Gentle shepheard séeing that the night is no time to travell and you are so tired that you are like to fall in great danger of some sore disease unlesse you look to your self and rest your weary limbs I heartily pray thou to stay with us this night and you shall have no worse bed then where my brother lieth on nor worse bed-fellow then himself And for as much as the pleasantnesse of this cool air is such that it inticeth and provoketh us to recreate our selves therein if that you will whilest we expect the coming of the dark night unfold the cause of this your wandring journey unto us and make us pertakers of your evill and adverse fortune we shall think us to be greatly beholding unto you The shepheard would not be long intreated by such excellent persons but walking with them in a pleasant arbour of Eglentine began to discourse after this manner Gentle shepheards the manifold benefits which it hath pleased you to heap on me being a meer stranger unworthy by my deserts of the least courtesie in the world bind me to yéeld to whatsoever you can demand of me as far as my simple power stretcheth And therefore although my evill be of such nature that it cannot be communicated unto all kinds of persons yet the opinion which I conceive of your deserts and the valor which your beauty bewrayeth constraineth me to make an open rehearsall of all my forepast life if I may term that life which I would willingly counterpoise and change with death Know therefore gentle shepheards that I am called Marcelio and that my vocation and estate is far contrary to that which my coâ—t â—heweth I was born at Soldine the principall and chief Citâ— of the Province of Vandalia and my parents were of great authority abounding in wealth riches I have béen brought up even from my childhood in the Court of the Lusitan King where I was much made of and dearly beloved not of the principal Peers onely but also of the King himself Insomuch that he would not suffer me to part from his Court until that time that he had comitted his Garisons in the borders of Affrick unto my charge Where I remained a long time chief and general Governour of all the Cities and For tresses which the King there hath keeping my residence in the City of Cente where my misfortune and adversity took beginning There was in the same City a certain Knight named Eugerio who was by the King honoured with the charge and government of the City This Knight had a son called Polydor most valiant and couragious in all extremities and two daughters called Alcida and Clenarde exceeding all the Gentlewomen of their Country in beauty Clenarde was indued with singular dexterity in handling her bow but Alcida who was the eldest surpassed her in beauty Who hath so enamoured my heart that she hath been the cause of this hopelesse and desperate life which you see me lead and of the cruel death which I call and wiâ—h for every hour Her father was so carefull and dainty of her that he would scarce allow her at any time to absent her self from his presence which hindred me that I could not let her know the affection which I bore her But neverthelesse as often as I saw her I signified and bewraied my pain unto her by means of my passionate looks and the sighs which proceeded from my heart without the consent of my will At length I found occasion to write unto her and therefore unwilling to neglect such wished opportunity I sent her a letter the contents whereof were such Maâ—celio unto Alcida MAdam your honesty and grave countenance your modesty and wisedome your wit and great judgement and thousand other virtues with which you are most happily indued besides the incomparable beauty which increaseth your renown in all parts of the world have so intangled my thoughts in the considerâ—ion thereof that I have been forced to collocate and place the sum of my felicity in meditating the rare gifts both of body and mind by which it hath pleased the Gods to make your Ladyship famous But when I consider mine own unworthinesse and perpend the great difference which is between such excellency and my self such is the dispair which possesseth my heart that I suffer incredible torment Yet the force of your beauty constraineth me to judge my self happy in that I suffer pain for so worthy a Lady as your self So that I feel singular joy and gladnesse in my evil and receive an extream glory in enduring grief Pain unto me is a pastime to weep a pleasure to sigh a solace grief health which doth raise the fury of torment in me though therein I enjoy a blessed content All this do I suffer for you Madam it is your beauty and virtue which causeth me to be tormented with such contrary passions And therefore pity an unfortunate lover who offereth you his own â—â—fe and who desireth not that his evill may be redressed but onely wisheth that it may be known This was the Letter which I wrote unto my Lady which if it had been so well â—eaned as it was fortunate I would be loth to change my â—bility with the eloquent stile of Tully The Letter being secretly conveyed into the hands of Alcida at the first caused her to be offended with my boldnesse but at last marking the sincerity of my love and the constancy wherewith I not onely remained stedfast but also patiently indured heâ— sâ—â—rnfull answers and disdainfull looks her heart was altered and she moved to reward my love with a pleasant countenance So that when my luck was to see her I easily eâ—pted the â—lteration of her former frowardnesse For her very eys did warn me to be of good chear and I might plainly see grace â—eâ—ted in her forehead After which time I bâ—gan openly to shew my self to be her superior oftentime justing turneying and writing verses poems and many such other things for her service remaining in this pain the space of certain years Which being expired Eugerio thought me worthy to be his son in law and by means of some of the chiefest personages of the City he offered me his daughter Alcida in marriage And it was amongst us agreed that our wedding should be kept in the City of Lisbone to
she so freely and of her own voluntary goodnesse had promised Whereupon taking his leave of her Perina and Perierio notwithstanding that they were loth to let hiâ— depart ere morning yet he so earnestly desired them to take his most just excuse in good part and to suffer him to do according to his own intent that they could not but let him accomplish his pleasure So that Marcelio thanking them all in most curteous manner for their rare hospitality singular benevolence towards him departed late in the night from those famous shepheards and took his wonted course in running up and down the woods rocks plains caves and all such solitary and desert places where he thought he might meat with the cause of his grief and yet the sole mistresse of his heart and onely object of his content and delight The noble shepheards were marvellously sorrowfull for his departure but especially Perierio who as you have heard was in love with the Lady that fled from him in the wood For he had purpose to ask Marcelio certain tokens of his Alcida because he doubted whether that Lady which he had seen had been Alcida but for that Marcelio had declared that his Lady was apparelled in the habit of a shepheard he gathered that it was not Alcida because the Lady which he saw was most sumptuously and gorgiously attirâ—d more like some Princesse then a counterfeit shepheard Whereof he was glad for two respects the one because Marcelio had rehearsed Alcida her protestation ingraâ—en in the rock Whereby he signified that she would never love any man living more The other because Marcelio was Alcidas husband in troth and promise therefore thought he should have but hard luck to become competitor and corrivall to so worthy a Knight and faithfull lover as Marcelio Euphilia and Perina went to their rest but Perierios mind was so intangled in the conceit which he had of his strange love that he could not rest but tumbling and tossing up and down in his bed by that time the day appeared he went from bâ—d as he came unto it for he had not so much as shut his eyes all the time that he lay Assoon as he had put on his cloaths he went into the Orchard to drive away his melancholy passions but the more he strived against love the lesse he prevailed and the means wherewith he sought to quench the fire which Cupid had inflamed in his breast did kindle the same For hearing the birds sing their naturall notes and â—ill the air with their chirping noise he began in this manner to renue his passions Ah pleasant birds that bewray your wished content by your shril voice which soundeth so swéetly in the air would I were so happy that I might have cause to sing with you Ah cruel fortune that didst send me into the wood to meet with my enemy Ah unmercifull Cupid that goest about to stay me by her for whose service I would willingly offer my life Why hast thou made me love her that hateth me And why prolongest thou my life to increase my torment If I may not enjoy her in whom my felicity consisteth I must die And therefore if I must be deprived of my wished desires swéet death mend thy pace and deliver me out of this intollerable grief Make hast ye fatall dames and cut the line of my life that with the losse of the same I may gain a pleasing rest and quietnesse But why do I request where I may command Have not I this dagger which at my pleasure may cause the breadfull Destinies to throw my miserable body the very habitation of grief breathlesse on this ground True but what if with one stroke I make four wounds in four severall bodies For if I die aged Camillo cannot live nor yet either Euphilia or Perina Therefore rather then my father or my sisters should end my Tragedy I will indure the extreamest torment that love or fortune can invent Why then come woe and be my daily weed Come come and wend with me in every place Come be the drink and meat whereon I feed And paint thy colours in my youthfull face Let fortune frown let wanton Venus hate Let Cupid fret woe is my trusty matâ— And therewith Perierio flung out of the Orchard and went with his shéep to the field And after Euphilia and Perina being warned by Phoebus silver lines that Aurora had cleared the air and expelled the darknesse of the night followed with their flocks also But Perierio lest they should perceive his inward grief by his outward looks led his shéep something farre out of the way where he thought he might be out of sight until he had powred forth the tears which as yet sate in his eyes Dinner time being come he washed the tears from his face and looked as chearfully as he could least his father or his sisters should mark any alteration in him He lived thus for the space of two moneths wéeping and lamenting the absence of the Lady which he loved oftentimes ranging through woods to sée if he might be so fortunate as to méet with her again CHAP. VI. How Euphilia and Perina came to the knowledge of Perierio's love and what conference passed between them HOw runningly soever Perierio cloaked his grief under a pleasant countenance yet because he so delighted to be alone haunting solitary places Euphilia and Perina began to suspect that their brother had something or other that troubled him And they could not enough marvel why he so often separated himself from their company whereas notwithstanding he was wont so pleasantly to recreate them either rehearsing some history or sounding his instrument or discoursing of the disposition of the water inclinations of the Planets and of the celestial orbs And therefore they could not imagine what might be the cause that he was of a merry become melancholy and to delight in solitarinesse where he so coveted company And to the end that they might know what moved him to alter and change his natural complexion upon a certain morning when the air was something darkned with a grosse myst they followed him secretly into the woods and although he almost tired them with trotting up and down all the paths and crosse ways of the wood yet they marvelling at the strangenesse of his walk rested not untill the bright beams of the sun had chased away the duskish myst for then they were compelled to stay behind Perierio a pretty way lest they should be séen by him At length he being overcome with wearinesse the sooner because he laboured in vain grief and travel together forced him to rest He therefore espying a tall Pine which did cast a large and enticing shadow threw himself down on the hard ground under the same and taking his country Cytheren sung so sweetly unto it that the heavenly harmony of his musick amazed all the Deer and birds in the wood Euphilia and Perina had no sooner marked that their brother had
taken the advantage of the Pine to shrowd his weary body from the injury of Apollos heat but they entring in the midst of the thicket to draw as near him as they might hear the sound of his instrument rebound against the bushes wherof they were passing glad hoping that he would bewray his thoughts to the dumb trees and sencelesse bushes They therefore listening heard him sing in this manner Floribusnt plenum ver sic mea vita periclis Piscibus ut que fretum sic ego mille malis Adversis cumnâ—or cumulat ut hortus arenis Gaudia me fugiunt sorte petitque dolor My mind is void of mirth no joy my humor doth possesse No pastime doth avail nor sport my grief for to redresse No muse may move no song delight no no nor pleasure please No tune can touch no fancy like no toy can work my case No game no play no dance no shew no company at all No exercise no use of bow nor yet of boul or ball Ne Bacchus cups ne Ceres chear ne Venus looks unsure From wo to wantonnesse can now my pensive thoughts allure Care care doth waste my years though young and vex my youthful age And therefore since no worldly thing my dolour can asswage I am content because compeld where others laugh to weep At night a thousand thoughts resolve where others take their sleep After he had ended this Sonnet Perina his youngest sister séeing that he arose to depart thence whistled and so staied him For he marvelled who it should be but at length espied both his sisters coming towards him which wonderfully astonished him because they had never done the like before and curteously greeting them asked what the cause was of their coming thither Euphilia answered your self brother Perierio For though we have great regard of our own welfare quoth Perina yet we do not regard our selves onely but are as carefull of your fortune as of our own And therefore we quoth Euphilia marking and perceiving by your solitary walks that you were troubled with some grief or other and that some misfortune had happened unto you we were as sorry as if it had béen our own case This brother Perierio is the cause of our coming to see if we might come in knowledge of the evill which tormenteth your youth that it being known unto us might by our diligence and industry be remedied and amended Therefore brother conceal it not from us whatsoever it be and you shall find in us more then sister-like readinesse if more may be Ah loving sisters quoth Perierio I cannot enough thank you both for the love you bear me and in truth the onely cause that I have smothered my pain with silence not detecting it unto any of you hath been for that I was loath that you should be grieved for my sake and I wished nothing so much as that al the discontent and anguish of my evil should redound to no bodies grief but mine own And therefore sweet sisters if you love your selves and me also wish not to be acquainted with my sore least you suffer part of the pain But content your selves and look to the tranquility of your own hearts not tormenting your selves in my behalf But you be deceived herein brother Perierio quoth Euphilia For in thinking to free us from grief by concealing your evil you do amisse Know you not that they which are carefull of any mans welfare and so tenderly love him that they think themselves hurt if any ill light on him are continually compassed with fear if he be grieved thinking the cause thereof oftentimes to be far greater or worse then it is Quando ego non in tui graviora pericula veris And therefore brother you afflict our hearts with divers torments in concealing your evill from us whereas we can but feel one pain if we knew it For now the torment of suspition in suspecting divers things doth assail us of one side fearing sometimes one mischief sometimes another every one whereof woundeth our hearts with passing sorrow And fear maketh the assault of the other side causing us to imagine that the matter is far worse then it is Lastly hope troubleth us as much as suspicion or fear For though it be a motion of the mind of future luck or good to come and not of evill yet is it but a perturbation of the mind troubling and vexing it continually and he that hopeth enjoyeth not his hearts ease nor quietnesse of mind Why then sister quoth Perierio to rid you of all suspicion fear and hope know that I love and suspect no worse nor hope any better and ask we no more for I should not be able to answer you if you should be too inquisitive The reason is because I know not whom I love nor where she is whom I love And is it love quoth Perina that troubleth you Why then left you not this verse out of the Sonnet which you sung to the Cytharen but even now Ne Bacchus cups ne Ceres chear ne Venus looks unsure From wo to wantonnesse can now my pensive thoughts allure Well remembred sister Perina quoth Euphilia for if he be in love he must needs offer sacrifice to Venus and what but the unsure looks of Venus hath caused him to give over all pasture and mirth and live in passionate grief And yet he saith That Venus looks unsure could no way him allure How then can you love Perierio if you be not allured by be â—â—ty Very well sister quoth Perierio For though Venus be accounted the Goddesse of love in being mother to Cupid yet doth she comand no further then beauty stretcheth which is not the onely object that moveth men to love What think you not that vertue nobility excellency or wealth may move us to love Then you must confesse that I may love and yet not allured by Venus colours Neverthelesse know that beauty is the onely cause and motive of my love and yet do I not think that the verse which my sister Perina so well remembred was unfitly inserted among the other verses of my Sonnet For séeing that I loved and yet was bereft of all hope ever to injoy her whom I loved because I neither knew what she was nor where she was as I have already told you by reason whereof I wished no greater pleasure then grief nor better companion then wo and therefore might very well say that the unsure looks of Venus should not provoke my pensive thoughts from we to wantonnesse meaning not by Venus looks sincere and true love but wanton and voluptuous love CHAP. VII How Maffeo arrived at the place where Perierio and his sisters were how he was enamoured on the Lady Eleonora and departed with her into Spain AS Perina thought to reply she was interpelled by a certain Knight that came galloping towards the place where she Perierio and Euphilia sate being sorely wounded in divers places of his body his sword being drawn and holding a scarf
question Now I am to request you to give me leave to follow on my journey for until I find Eleonora I cannot rest And so Maffeo thanking them for their courteous entertainment took his leave and departed Now therefore leaving him to séek Eleonora we will proceed in rehearsing the successe of Perierio his strange love CHAP. IX How Perierio resolved to travel in search of the Lady on whom he was enamoured and how he obtained leave of his father under pretence of becomming a Scholler PErierio being intreated by his sisters to tell them whom he loved though he could not name her for that he knew her not yet he let them know as much as he could tell and declared the whole matter unto them how he met with that Lady by chance how that she asked him his name and country and how therewith she conveyed her self out of sight on the sudden Euphilia and Perina were very sorry that their brothers love was of such a kind that it might not be remedied but by giving over love For it was altogether casual and accidentary neither might they hope that ever he might enjoy his love for that there was nothing lesse like yea it séemed rather impossible For they considered first that he had never séen the Lady before that time nor after by reason whereof though he chanced to sée her perchance should not know her Secondly they marked that he knew not her name her parents or Country to enquire after her so that the nearest place he knew where he might find her was the world and the properest individium to denominate her was a certain woman And lastly they perpended that she sought for some other Knight who had her heart in hold and therefore a very hard matter though Perierio should find her to obtain her love All this considered and weighed they sought to root love out of Perierio his brest which Cupid had so pierced with his dart that all the perswasions of the world could not serve to extinguish the fire which was kindled in his heart and increased more and more dayly In so much that the fire being enflamed and beginning to torment him with insupportable pain he determined to commit himself and his case to Fortune hoping that as the cause of his grief was accidentary so the effect might by chance be redressed and remedied Perierio thus resolved asked and obtained leave though with much adde of his aged father to travel into far countries to sée and learn such things as a young Gentleman ought to know alledging that there was nothing more peremptory to youth then to passe over those years which are apt to comprehend and learn in foul obscurity of ignorance In so much that a young man that will live in credit and reputation ought to travel into strange countries to be acquainted with forreign manners and governments to learn tongues to haunt Vniversities and insinuate himself into the company of learned men All this Father quoth Perierio is necessary for them that will have their lives famous and death honourable Old Camillo replied with Horace Coelum non animum mutant qui trans mane currunt Men change not their manners but the aire that run from country to country Perierio And therefore I am not of their opinion that believe that men by far travelling from home can attain to wisdome and humane prudence For I think that that is not gotten by running into far Countries or by living in exile farre from home but rather by communication and conversation of wise men Yet Perierio séeing that here in this multitude of shepheards little wisdome is to be learned or little profit to experience and prudence to be reaped I and content that thou go to the Vniversity of Salamanca which is within this kingdom and there to repeat such rudiments as thou hast begun at Rome that thou mayst afterward be apt to greater studies and to exorn and beautifie thy mind with the brightness of the liberal Sciences which are the lights of humane understanding Lastly also to fense thy mind with wise and sage precepts of Phylosophy that after thou hast attained to the knowledge of natural things thou maist use moral Philosophy to moderate thy affections and to follow that which thou knowest to be honourable and profitable shunning the contrary Then art thou fully armed to passe forward to travel into other countries to be acquainted with strange customes or to learn diverse tongues otherwise what profiteth it to have coursed through sundry and strange regions and to have séen many kingdomes and manners of divers Nations if he that travelleth wanteth the ripeness of wit and judgement to reap profit by his being abroad Therefore Perierio think not that I disallow of travelling but would have them that take that course not to have their stomacks empty but first guard themselves with the knowledge of Philosophy and humanity and furnish themselves with provision necessary to such journeying For I remember that Homer and Virgil to describe and form an heroical man adorned with all vertues fained that Ulysses and Aeneas had travelled through all the world and not thinking this sufficient they fained that they descended into hell and went into the Elizian Fields and knew those that were in them Perierio hearing his father alledge such points as made for his purpose was excéeding glad at length obtained his Fathers good will to leave the countrey and rustick company of Shepheards to haunt the comely and seemly conversation of Schollers though his mind was more moved to his Lady then to the Vniversity whither old Camilla determined to send him And although Euphilia and Perina knew the colour wherwith he painted the occasion of his travelling yet they reserved the whole sorrow to themselves without declaring it to their father fearing lest he should be discouraged and discomforted thereby that he might hinder his health and for grief fall into sickness considering that old age is so subject to diseases that the least cause in the world of discontent is sufficient to subvert the estate of health in an aged person CHAP. X. How Perierio in his journey met with the fair Shepherdess Ismenia with whom he departed towards the Temple of Diana PErierio lifted up with the wings of hope in a manner doubted not but his fortune would be more favourable then she had been taking his leave of his father and his sisters he betook himself to his journy intending to go to the Vniversity of Salamanea as his father wished but in such order that he would take the néerest way about to sée if Fortune would once again favour him with that sight which made such an impression in his heart that neither continuance of time nor contrariety of thought was able to rase out the print thereof Thus Perierio having travelled six dayes through Woods dales bushes gréens medows hills valies and other solitary place and yet had not met with that which he sought nor séen any likelihood
I have nourished him carefully and maintained him as a father ought to do brought him up painfuly taught him and instructed him and what trouble paines and labour I have had with him what counsel I continually have given him and how mildly I have rebuked and chastised him in his youth Now is he sorely against my will married to the Shepheardess Ismenia and because I have rebuked him therefore instead of revenging himielf on the shepheard Alanio who shamefully entertaineth as all the Village knoweth the said Ismenia his wife he hath turned his rage against me intending to murder me He found meanes the last night to enter into my house yea into my bed-chamber where I lay and slept with my wife Felisarde and there with this ponyard would have slain me and verily had dispatched me if God of his grace had not taken his force from him in such sort that he could not hold the dagger in his hand but was constrained to let it fall and so confounded and bereft of his sences departed without executing his damnable enterprise And this is it that I had to say thus is the matter verily passed as my beloved spouse can better inform you But for as much as I certainly know that my son Lexander had not taken upon him to commit such an horrible treason against me his father unlesse he had been counselled and provoked thereto by the inticements and allurements of his wife Ismenia I beseech you to perpend and weigh what ought herein to be done to the end that my son may be punished for his offence and false Ismenia also as well for the counsel which she hath given unto her husband as for her lightnesse and dishonest love towards Alanio Filene had scarce ended his tale but the people began to murmure and make such a noyse that it séemed that the whole Village should have presently sunck in the ground in so much that the hearts of all the Shepheards were troubled and all conceived generally mortal hatred against Lexander Some said that it was pitty he should live till Phoebus had reached to his Meridian seat others said that he ought to be cast into the River others that it was pitty if he were not burned quick and others that he ought to be committed to the mercy of the cruel and savage beasts finally there was no one person that was not stirred up against him Besides they did likewise all marvel of that which Filene falsly alleaged concerning my life but they were neverthelesse all of them so amazed at the fact Lexander that they did not greatly hearken to the accusation and impeachment which Filene most falsly by reason of Felisarde his wives deceitful spéech had made against me When Lexander had heard what his father had deposed against him in the Court of criminal cause in the presence of the Iustices and audience of all the people he was wonderfully grieved besides when he understood what his father had said against me he conceived such excéeding sorrow that it passeth my ability to express the same And thence commeth all my grief thence took my evil it offspring that was the cause and beginning of all my labours travel pain and sorrowes For my dear husband Lexander remembring that in times past I did love was loved of Alanio and that love forgotten and dead oftentimes may be renewed and revived again because he saw that the Shepheard Alanio whom I could not abide to sée whom I abhorred for Lexanders sake was yet amourous of me daily shewing me such curtesies and importunate cherishments he thought verily and perswaded himself that all was most certain and true which his father had spoken of me in the face of the world In such maner that he dispairing as well for the treason committed unto him by Traitress Sylveria as for the suspition which he conceived of me departed incontinently from the village since which time he was never séen there nor any news brought what is become of him And as I knew that he was departed and the cause wherefore by report of certain shepheards his friends unto whom he had rehearsed the whole matter I likewise left the village to séek him and intend not to rest any where untill I find my sweat spouse to the end that I may excuse and clear my self unto him of that fault which is falsly imputed to me and which he suspecteth to be most true It is long since I have wandred up and down through the world to seek my husband and although I have sought him and inquired for him in most places and especially all the chiefest and principall farmes houses villages and boroughs of the country yet can I not hear any thing of him The best adventure that I have had in this my endlesse voyage was that two days after I departed from our village in a certain valley I met the traitresse Sylveria who having heard of the voluntary exile and banishment of my husband Lexander went after him to discover her treason unto him repenting that she had so highly offended him But she had not as yet found him and as soon as she saw me she approached near me and falling fiâ—t on her face cried me mercy and at my will rising she opened the whole matter vnto me Whereof I was not a little glad thereby understanding how that abhominable treason was practised against us And although I was but a weak woman yet I could have unlaced the traitresse members and teared her to piece-meal with mine own hands yet I withheld my self because she onely could remedy my harm by reporting her own mischief I willed her diligently to seek my beloved Lexander and to give him notice how all the matter was passed and therewith on the sudden I left her going one way and I came anut her to the end that either of us might find him Thus gentle shepheard have you heard the plain and true rehearsall of all my miseries and calamities And for as much as Phoebus is not yet drowsie or sleepy nor like to reach to his Western bed so soon if in like manner you as I have done will take pleasure in reporting the cause and off-spring of your wandring errors I doubt not but we shall reach to the place where I hope we shall rest this night by that time that you have added the canclusion to your narration Alas quoth Perierio the conclusion must néeds follow quickly where the narration is sooner ended then begun For all the speciallity that I can use in declaring the cause of my misery is this generall rule that I know that I am most miserable For I love but whom I know not and that is all I can say concerning my self Perierio hod scarce ended his words but Ismenia made sign that he should hearken to a certain voice which she thought to Have heard in the woods for there was a Gentlewoman in the habit of a shepheard not far from the place where they
no traitor known till clad in clay This Gibbet here was set it to bewray For the King was terribly enraged when he had heard this strange kind of treason which was the cause that now he loved her whom he had wedded to his son and hated him whom he was by Nature bound to love For lest Periander should return into Albion and marry with me whom he would have to be his wife the King forgetting both the law of Nature and Honesty wrote unto the King of Spain that his Son Periander was guilty of treason against his own person being his Father and therefore desired him upon all friendship and the alliance that had a long time béen between the Kingdomes of Spain and Albion to keep his son close prisoner and to let him be used as hardly as any of all the other Captives which were in his Kingdome or Domions When I had heard what answer the King had returned by the Embassadors of Spain my heart was ready to burst And I was minded divers times to dispatch my self with one of my garters thinking that by my death I should deliver Periander from imprisonment and move the Kings mind to use his son as he ought to do But I know not how I was always so falsly allured with hope that I continually abstained from shortening my life and thereby prolonged my misery You shall therefore understand that I got one of the Embassadors Pages to carry a Letter from me unto Periander and to deliver it secretly into his own hands which the youth promised that he would accomplish though it should cost him his life and to reward his readinesse and to make him the willinger and carefuller to discharge his duty I gave him twentie crowns to drink The Letter was written to this effect Brisilla to the Prince Periander SWeet Periander the joy which poor Brisil conceived when she heard of her Periander was too great to be of long continuance and even as the herb that groweth and fadeth in one hour so the mirth that possessed my soul was in a moment expelled and banished You accused the Pylot Barsalis but you might rather have cursed the traytor Massicourt as the chief cause and first beginning of all our sorrows for the furious love hypocriticaf friendship and malitious policie of that unhappie Knight hath wrought first his own ruine and therewith our adversitie How miserable and unhappy art thou Periander that thy own natural father hateth thee How unfortunate that thy parent conspireth against thee And how unluckie that he who ought to be thy chief friend is become thy enemy Nay rather how wretched is distressed Brisil that unhappie Periander must be thus miserable unfortunate and unluckie for her sake Ah Periander could my captivity set thee at liberty how pleasantly and how willingly should the world see me run to the Prison and yeeld my leg to the Stocks or Iron Gyves Nay might the dearest bloud that succoureth my faithful heart purchase thy ransome from imprisonment and obtain thee thy souls desire how soon should my breast offer it self to my knife to be set a broach and to have a passage made into the inmost part thereof But no the Gods and fortune envy at me too greatly to suffer me to injoy so great happinesse If no man can or dare tel you the cause of your fathers suddain wrath against you know that I have found means to rid you of that doubt and to let you understand that accursed Brisil is the occasion thereof though she had rather die then live to see thee wronged The King thy father will be married to Brisil and therefore must Periander be banished which is more imprisoned among strangers far from home But assure thy self Periander that I will rather die then undo that which is knitted with my faith and bound with my honor If you can patiently endure your imprisonment perswade your self that I will couragiously abide my martyrdome Which for that as it cannot but be the crown of mine honour so also is like to be the cause of my releasement I wish that it may happen with all speed That Brisil being lifeless and forgotten Periander may be reconciled to his father return to his country and injoy his pleasure untill the decease of the King then to be crowned with the glorious title of King of Albion And thus faithfull Brisil biddeth thee farewell lamenting nothing so much as that she was not in the galley by you to row for you and bear all the travel that you by reason of her were constrained to suffer among them unnaturall Moors and galley slaves Adieu Thine and therefore thy self miserable Brisilla This Letter I had no sooner delivered to the Page but Embassadours departed from the Court having taken their leave of the King and embarked themselves the next day after to return into Spain When they were gone the King sent for me and asked me whether I was not yet resolved to love him séeing he hated his own son for love of me Whereunto I answered that if his Majesty loved me indéed he would likewise love his son séeing that I loved none but his son nor could not love any other as long as I lived But to be short and as little tedious loving shepheards as I possibly may after we had reasoned and argued together the space of a full hour he in protesting how intirely he loved me and that he could not live unless he enjoyed Brisil as his Quéen and I in defending that I might not love him nor live if I break my promise made to his son in his presence and by his consent at length he burst out into these raging words Proud Brisil and ungrateful Duches thou despisest the high offers of a King and contemnest the love of a Monarch that governeth a whole Kingdome And thinkest thou not that I cannot command thée séeing an huge people is ruled by me I promise thee that I will teach thee not to say nay when I demand and to be ready to grant when I request Therefore know that thou shalt be married unto me wilt thou or wilt thou not and the Marriage day shall be the ninth day after to morrow See then that thou prepare thy self against that day to condescend to my pleasure lest thou wilt rue thy stubborn hardneckedness And with that he turned from me into the next chamber and left me poor distressed wight ready to yield up the ghost at the sound of his conclusion But snatching hope by the subject I thought either the Kings minde might before the appointed day be altered or fit opportunity offered me to escape his tyranny by flight But neither I could in time get away nor the King had forgotten his intent But the day which he had appointed for the Wedding being come and all things in a readinesse sent for me I although I did not well know what to do yet râ—sting upon this point rather to die then to forsake Periander and
desiring her not to deny her friendly aide and holy herein So that to be short Bergama for that was this other Shepheards name promised her neece that what she could do she would be ready to performe Whereupon she told her what she would have her to do instructing her in all points concerning the same Which tended to no other end then to work our woe and by expelling us by their treachery out of those quarters to enjoy the love of Petulca Insomuch that these two Neeces having agreed and concluded upon the premises thus began Bergama to play her part But you must note that when Petulca the amorons shepheard used to come to our field his way lay hy the place where Bergama kept her sheep So that she espying him on a certain morning betimes marching over her ground to come to pass the time with us in merry chat according to his maner she stepped unto him and knowing with what kind of talk she might stay his journey she cunningly held him prattle until such time as she espied that I was alone For commonly my sister Sybil alias Periander towards noone used to go to our lodging not so well able to suffer the heat of midday as I. Bergama therefore espying me alone called me unto her and asked me where my sister was as if she had not known it when I had answered that she was gone home why then quoth she séeing thou art alone I pray kéep company with me a little and this shepheard who although he had rather be in company with Sybil yet for that maugre his will he must this noone be my guest will not be displeased with your presence sith he loveth yâ—u the better for your sisters sake With that she did lead us both into a delectable Arbor whence I might sée my sheep as well as if I had been in mine owne field and therefore was the sooner intreated to stay with her In the midst of this Arbour was a table of Marble stone on which she laid a fair napkin and set before us such chear as was most wished for in the Countrey at that time of the year praying us to sit downe and take such fare as she had in good part sith she envited us not for the excellency of her delicates but for good will and pleasure of our company So she placed the shepheard Petulca and me together on one side of the Table and she her self sate on the other While we were thus merrily banqueting and talking together thinking or dreaming of no harme Malorena by whose counsaile and instinct all this was practised having notice of our being together by means of a little wench sent under by Bergama her neece in post-haste went to our Cottage and entring into the house spake unto Periander in this manner Fair Sybil I doubt not but you have heard of the love and affection which I have borne towards the shepheard Petulca and that therefore I seemed to be displeased with you because he so dearly loved you and for your sake despised and disdained me But now seeing I know the contrary and being enformed of one of his speciall friends how the matter standeth I perceive that I have greater occasion to be angry with your sister then with you and therefore I thought good to come unto you and to crave pardon of you for that I was offended with you without câ—use In respect whereof for acquittance I will now shew you as great friendship as before I wished you evill You shall therefore understand that your sister Brisilla doth most unnaturally deal with you in loving Petulca whereas she seemeth not to esteem of him and Petulca himselfe doth most shamefully abuse your courtesie in that you give such trust and credit to his feined speeches and dissembling perswasions For he therewith bringeth you in a fooles paradice causing you to beleeve that you are the saint whom he honoureth whereas he like a treacherous caitiffe loveth your sister Brisil so affectionately that he never espieth her out of your company but he hieth unto his Lady passing the time with passionate spéeches swearing each other love and loyalty and therewith conspiring together how they may best deceive you and feed you with this false opinion that Petulca loveth you because you should not perceive that he and your sister could play concord in your absence though they were alwayes at discord in your presence And for because you shall finde my words to be true and acknowledge me to be your perfect friend whom you suspected to be your foe as in truth for a time I could not well disgest you I will lead you in a place where you shall see your unnaturall sister and dissembling sutor banquetting together You know my néece Bergama very well I doubt not which is as shrewd a wench as any in the world if you knew her qualities And I think also that you perceive what great acquaintance there is between her and your sister This Bergama my cunning Néece hath granted them her house for their secret meeting place where Petulca after he hath been with you and sometimes without comming unto you stayeth till he come home and then is sure to enjoy the company of his loving Brisil For as soon as you are gone from her thither she trippeth And if you will follow my counsaile and go with me you shall see how lovingly she at this present sitteth on Petulca's side and maketh good chear with him in Bergama's Arbor I would have you to go with me because if we go to your field we are like to misse of our purpose the reason is for that my shrewd Neece Bergamas standeth on her hold and watcheth for your comming and as soon as she can espy you the convert breaketh up the Shepheard marcheth on forward and your sister returneth to her sheep But where I will lead you we shall not be seen and yet see all And then take Malorena to be your friend when your owne eyes shall force you to confesse the same Periander giving faith to this Syrens sweet Song went with her and according to her saying saw us together though we poor souls most innocent and thought of no such supposed villany Yet Fortune to marre our matter the more and to give the greater colour to Malorena's tale would have it so that while Periander stood with that traitress and looked upon us the shepheard Petulca being of custom merry and pleasant smacked his lips on my cheek as I sat by him which I knowing his humour that he did it of wantonness and not of love made not strange of it seemed not to take it in ill part sith the shepheard meant no evil by it But alas loving shepheards Periander took it so heavily and so ingraved both that which he had heard of Malorena and seen with his own eyes in the ground of his tender heart that now I am compelled to detest that traitres Malorena to hate that deceitful Pergama
make us yex Our paine is past our dolour done we sayle with prosperous winde No passion now nor trouble may disturbour quiet minde Cynthia The Sea doth flow as well as ebbe and waves both mount and fall As stormy Tempests doe disturb So calmes do quiet all The Summers Sunne produceth Flowers which fragrant scents do yield Though winter aire in snowie robes doth wrap the barren field The sight of Phoebus Lordly face doth drive away the raine And Titanes as oft is full as she is in the waine Polydora Let Furies fret let Charon curse let brawling Cerberus bawle Let Radamanthus rage let Pluto chafe and Minos brawle Let all the Fiends of Acheron even spet out all their spight They shall not marre the mirth we make by high Diana's might Which all those that doe sojourn in this sacred place exempts From hellish harme from wracking woe and Fortunes shrewd attempts The three Nymphs having ended the Sonnet dinner was ended the cloath taken up and the Lady Felicia rising with all her Guests walked out of the Bower into the other part of the Garden where she called Maffeo under her and spake unto him in this maner Worthy Knight for that I know your chiefest bliss consisteth in the finding of your wife Eleonora I mean by the help of the gods and the especial favour of Diana to help you unto your hearts desire with all the spéed that I may And therefore séeing the same is brought to passe the more happy you shall deem your self I will put my skill in practise out of hand Wherefore incontinently may it please you to depart from me and go to the place where you left your child and taking it thence return to me again with it and let me care for your rest Maffeo yielding the venerable Dame singular thanks for all her favours humbly took his leave of her and all the company and presently departed from the Palace taking his way toward the Village where he left his young Alonso after he lost Eleonora in the high-way while he sléeped where we will leave him pacing in his journey and talk of those that remained in the Palace with the Lady Felicia CHAP. XXI How Perierio drunk the two Potions of Oblivion and Understanding and likewise the Discourse that was between the Lady Brisil and Petulca MAffeo being gone the Lady Felicia taking Perierio apart led him into the Palace and brought him into her study which was so exorned and beautified with sundry volumes that it séemed rather to be the Library of some grave Philosopher then the Counting-house of a Lady for there was no Book no Author no Writer that was in estimation at those times but the Lady Felicia had him in her Bibliothick Now having Perierio there alone she thought it time to execute that which his destinies had appointed and therefore said unto him Couragious Gentleman although you have not as yet told me one word touching the cause of your comming hither yet I know it as well as you can tell me Is it not to enjoy the love of a Lady which you never saw but once I expect no answer for I know it is And I pray you tel me whether you are of that opinion yet or no and whether you are constant in your love ready to undertake any labour to obtain the same But ere you give me an answer quaffe out this goblet in token of your good will towards me that wish your hearts content Perierio taking the Goblet drank out the Liquor that was in it chéerfully which had such vertue that it took away the memory of Love how déep soever it was rooted in the hearts of mortal creatures He therefore having taken his draft answered thus Most prudent Lady I am ashamed that I am come hither unto you having yea knowing no cause why I should trouble your Ladiship and unless I had received such excéeding pleasure in viewing your Ladiships most sumptuous Palace I should be sorry that ever I left my aged father and loving sisters sorrowfull and mourning at home for my absence Well quoth the Lady Felicia I am glad that my Medicine hath taken so good effect But I pray you take one drauth more at my request which shall not be of the same liquor as the other but more fruitful and though it be something more bitter in the taste it shal nevertheles be far more sweeter in operation then the other Perierio taking the cup drank the potion though with some difficulty by reason of the sternnesse thereof which was nothing so gentle as the former potion of oblivion But Felicia séeing that he had couragiously forced himself to leave nothing in the cup well done quoth she for though the root of science knowledge and learning be bitter yet are the Flowers which it produceth most swéet and pleasant And as he thus spake she perceived that her second potion had done no less good then the â—â—rst For it had not only sharpned his wit and grinded his understanding being more apt to receive the impression of learning but ravished him with such desire to attain to the knowledge of Philosophy whereunder I comprehend all kind of learning that his minde was quite changed from Venus to Minerva and from Cupids Court to the Mount Parnassus In so much that he began to unclose the clapses of Felicias Volumes and untye the strings of her Books being spurred thereto with a fervent zeale to know the contents thereof where we will leave him talking with the Lady about the liverall Sciences and such other matters concerning scholasticall parley and speak of those whom we left in the Garden where Marcelio and Alcida walked together in one Alley Ismenia with Lexander in another Eugerio with his son Polydor and his daughter Clenarde walked by the River which closed up one end of the Garden The shepheards Petulca and Philorenus with the rest of the company sate on a bed of cammomile and Duches Brisil walked alone in an Arbor of Roses where the dye that beautified her vermilion cheeks strove with the Roses for superiority in perfection of colour Thus walking alone she espied the shepheard Petulca sitting among other shepheards and desiring to know of him whether he came thither about Periander as she had understood of the Nymph Arethee she stepped by them and saluting them said Gentle shepheards I hope you will not be displeased though I presse into your company being not sent for the rather because Petulca is one of my old acquaintance and therefore I could do no lesse then gréet him as I would have done ere this if occasion had been altered Petulca weo though he had made earnest enquiry what this Princesse was had not yet learned that it was Brisil sister to his dear Sybil marvelling at the Ladies words séeing he knew her not or never had seen her to his knowledge was so amazed that he wist not what to say which Philorenus marking gave her this answer The displeasure Madam
excesse of gladnesse which possessed my soul But I beséech you go not about to undo your self to save me least in seeking my weal you procure your own woe so where but one should suffer death you bring both in danger Mistresse Cerasilla glad of his answer but sorry to see him make no more hast to do that which she desired she spurred him forward saying Sweet Philorenus doubt not but I am perswaded of thy love towards me and that I think of thy silence as thou sayest As for the rest let me alone I hope where you fear we shall both fall in the trap that we shall neither of us be snared in the net and therefore be ruled by me seeing womens wits have sometimes brought that to passe which mens minds hath admired To be short my brother became mistresse Cerasilla in attire and was apparelled in her cloaths whose body was the habitacle of my heart accompanied by the Saint whom I worshipped though absent and in whom my mind dwelled though my body was in subjection to the villaines that kept me in their cels after they had robbed me and slain my men Yet if I had then known of the love and affection of my mistresse towards me and how willingly she would have endeavoured to deliver me from the barbarous entertainment of the Egyptian theeves if she had known that her faithfull Philorenus was so afflicted my misery though it had been greater could not have béen half so troublesome unto me nor my filthy prison so noisome But least I be troublesome unto this worthy company by digressing from the matter know that my brother passed for mistresse Cerasilla and she for her brother and bidding the Gentleman that was charged with him Adieu they departed leaving him so busie at his game that he tended his play more then his prisoner Insomuch that they making all the haste they could marched through the Court and resembling that they went to walk in the fields they spared not their legs but sometimes running sometimes going a round pace they did advantage their journey in such manner that the next morning having travelled all night they reached to the wood where I was there thinking themselves out of danger they rested CHAP. XXIX How Philorenus the younger and Cerasilla lost each other in the wood and how the elder Philorenus was delivered out of the Aegyptians Cell by Cerasilla NOw though they had made sufficient provision of money yet when hunger began to gnaw them having disgested their meat by their walk or rather flight they wist not what shift to make for victuals Insomuch that they went straying up and down the wood to see if they could find any roots or wild fruit growing there intending to feed on them till finding the way to some house they might buy other kind of meat But mistresse Cerasilla being weary of raunging and overtaken with sleep lay down amidst the bushes and prayed my brother also to rest himself a while but he having more mind to eat then to sleep bid her take her rest and he would in the mean time seek for some victuals against she waked Insomuch that he marked the place where he left her and went towards the side of the wood whence he might see a chimney smoaking Whereof glad though he feared lost he should be mett with hee ventured and went to the house where he found a poor old woman sitting by the fire all alone and desired her of all friendship to let him have bread for his mony The woman perceiving that he was some Gentleman of account in mean time may it please you to note that my brother and mistresse Cerasilla had changed apparel in the way each taking that sute which agreed to their sexe told him that she had bread but she feared it was too brown for his eating but he desiring her to let him have it such as it was she brought him four loaves which he took and paying her as much as she asked to the wood he returned as fast as he could where he had espied a fountain and therefore stayed not with the old woman to drink she proffering him a glasse of Cydar being a kind of wine made of apples For he purposed to carry mistresse Cerasilla bread first and then to lead her to the said fountain and there with her to quench his thirst But when he came to the place where he left her mistresse Cerasilla was not there for waking out of her sleep she went to see if she could méet with him for because he had been something long away séeing the place whither he went for bread was about one league from the wood and he had wandred up and down the wood about two or three hours ere he came to the wood side whence he espied the smoak she suspected that he was lost in the wood and could not find the way to come unto her again And so it came to passe that she seeking him lost him and he not finding her lost himself For he was so distracted with sorrow and grief that as a man abandoning all hope in a manner dispairing he sate down and laying his elbow on the ground to support his head began in this manner to exclaim against Fortune for her spighfull entreatment Ah Fortune I perceive my destinies have ordained me to be the subject whereon thou mayest work thy power and shew thy inconstancy and whereon thou dost plant the banner of thy forces and hang up the trophees of thy victories For who is there that is acquainted with the course of my life that dare deny but that every part thereof hath bin guided by Fortune and subject to her accidentary government For after the day of my birth the circumstance whereof may be attributed to no power but to the hidden secrets of dame Nature onely was it not a chance and accidental cause that I should with my cradle by my parents be carried out of my country and live in exile before I knew what exile yea what life was was it not say I a token of the sparkles of anger which began to glister in the heart of Fortune and a manifest sign that she began to menace and threaten me some disastrous hap in time to come For I lived not many weeks after but I saw the fire flame which was kindled of the former sparkles and I tried the force of her menaces For before we could reach to any place where we might sojourn death bereft me of my dear mother before nature allowed me to acknowledg the benefit which by her I had and did receive This done Fortune seemed not not to have wreaked her anger sufficiently and as yet became nothing more méek for after my mother was buried and her funeral rights celebrated we came to the village Cinqueni where I was deprived of my father all the hold of my hope and the pillar of my wellfare Now Fortune thought her selfe prettily well revenged on me that had
we as we found our selves to be brothers having the same Name Parents Countrey Shape fortune so we swore everlasting friendship and allegiance one to another so loving one the other that though I know that it were impossible for any man in the world so to love any one as I loved him yet am I forced by the consideration of his wonderfull deserts towards me and by the tryal which I have had of his loyalty to doubt whether my love or his were the greatest And because we would in all things be alike and deprive the world of all means to know and discern one of us from the other we continually apparelled our selves alike both in the same colour fashion and order Insomuch that it was hard for the best discerning wit that the world could bring forth to know the one from the other or to find any difference between us Which thing as generally it troubled most of all the courtiers so particularly it was cause of Cerasillacs death who as I told you before bearing me good will and taking my brother for me when she conveyed him out of prison and saved his life and having lost him in the wood afterwards also delivered me from the villainous Egyptians and so was cause of all our blisse This poor Gentlewoman loving us both excellently well and deserving likewise to be honoured of us for very sorrow that she could not discern me from my brother pined and falling into a consumption died Whereof though we were passing sorry yet the youthfulnesse of our young hearts receiving the impression of the beauty of a young Gentlewoman sister to the Countesse Verina quickly forgot the funerals of Mistresse Cerasilla Yet because we could not but acknowledge that we were in great sort beholding unto her we bestowed this Epitaph upon her Sweet sweetness lies beneath this marble stone Which prays all loving hearts her death to mourn Her flower is fall'n though were her years but green When Life's most sweet she bitter Death hath seen We that of her this here have written in Had but for her now neither of us bin By Phi lore nus Phi lore nus But leaving her in her sepulcher I will return the sister of Countesse Verina who being a most beautifull Gentlewoman named Mistresse Aureola so inchanted my mind by the commanding force of her swéet face and sugred tongue that I admiring the much decent colour of the one and the well governed volubility of the other was so ravished in the pleasing delight which her perfections caused in my heart that I judged no woman fair none witty and none eloquent but golden Aureola Who as she passed all women in comelinesse of body and pure snow-like whitenesse of skin so none came near her in those hidden qualities which bred in the brain and fostred in the heart are made known by the tongue But to be short such were her graces both inward and outward that they pierced my heart in such manner that I was forced to acknowledge my self her servant and Cupids captive being subdued by his policy in using the imperiall beams of her beauty instead of darts to infringe and break the priviledge of my liberty Well I loved Aureola and so loved Aureola that for the love of Aureola I could have hated my self I then being in this case began to imploy my brains in searching out manner and procuring means to make my affection known to the Saint I so truly honoured And truly in short time not Aureola's self onely but my brother also began to perceive the fire which being kindled in my heart did cast out such a cloud of love-smoak Now I glad that Aureola knew the manner of my sicknesse but gladder that she seemed not male-content of my welcontentednesse and nothing displeased that my brother was acquainted with my passion seeing that he was an Alterego my self in I will not say another body for it was too like mine to be differenced but another place thought my self the happiest man that lived Ye may judge how much more blessed I would have accounted my self to have been if I might have doubled my single life by marriage with her Vnto whom to lay open the pain which punished my heart for the cause of her I sought occasion very diligently Insomuch that opportunity being presented unto me within a few days after and espying her walking by her self and the trées alone in the garden where her sisters lodging was I thought it but a negligent part to omit that fortunate hour and therefore knowing that the Countesse her sister was gone to the Quéen I posted to my mistresse with a sound courage hoping to return victorious or with good hope of victory Into the Garden I stepped and having set on half a dozen paces forwards towards her I might sée her turn being at the end of the walk Whose heavenly face so dazeled mine eys with the glance that she cast from the other end of the garden that I soon acknowledged that no Sun could so have dimmed my eys but the double Titan which like two little worlds of grace are such ornaments to her face that as they are beholding to it for that it hourdeth them so is it bounden unto them because it is by them adorned and beautified At length I came so near her that manners warned me to salute her though I was so astonished at her celestial shape that I could more fixe mine eys to behold her with admiration then fashion my mouth to salute her with civility Yet love taught me to beware of committing so foul and grosse a fault as not to give her a courteous good morrow who was the efficient of my disquiet evenings Therefore gréeting her after the humblest and lovingest manner my passiō forced me she answered me after this manner Good morrow sir Knight you are very maticuous this morning whatsoever the cause be but I pray you what weather drove you towards these quarters so early Truly Madam quoth I my good fortune séeing I have met with no worse company then your swéet self For as I passed by the Garden wall by chance looking over with a long neck I espied you walking by your self alone and so I thought it good manners to step near and give you the buen giorno And if I thought that my boldnesse in pressing so near you perhaps in such time as you had rather give respite to your solitary delight then otherwise be troubled should offend you as I came intending not to displeasure you so I would depart without performing any thing whereby you might have occasion to be discontented No no sir Knight quoth she beshrew me if ever I could be offended with good company neither have I any such melancholy humour as to delight in beeing alone but that sometimes I am compelled to be solitary for lack of good company And then I must of necessity walk alone and recreate my self with viewing natures diligent businesse in beautifying the earth
highest for so I would grant my reason were but fondly grounded neither do I say that the Lilly deserves the head praise among all flowers because it grows not confusedly but in decent and comely order for there are many flowers that growing disorderly in swéetness of scent surpass divers well ranked flowers and lastly I say not that the Lilly is the excellentest flower because it is so swéet a flower but thus I form my reason That stately stateliness white whiteness gallant gallantness and swéet swéetness all these predominant qualities méeting together in the bravo Lilly make her worthy to be honored as the fairest finest and bravest flower that Nature hath framed By this the Countess Verina being come to her lodging Mistress Aureola was to retire from the garden to her sister and so I was forced to leave her having missed of my purpose and no time to break my mind to her in plain words although amidst our dispute concerning the excellency of flowers I used such passionate looks that she might well perceive whereto my discourse tended but howsoever she thought of it I know not but our parting was so amiable that after I had lost the sight of her I felt that I parted from her without parting For my body might well be contained in some other place than hers but my mind followed her wheresoever she went as trustily as her own shadow CHAP. XXXII How Philorenus the younger was enamoured on Aureola concealing it from his brother and how his brother came to the knowledge thereof IN the mean time excellent Princes and worthy thy shepheards you may note that my brother loved her I mean my golden Aureola as intirely as I my self his love being unknown to me For though he knew that I loved her yet was I not as yet acquainted with the love that he bore Aureola And in truth because he knew she was the onely air by which I lived rather then he would do any thing to procure my disquiet resolved himself to die for love of Aureola rather then he should opportunate Aureola to love him and to deprive me of that without which I could not live Insomuch that although he so loved her that for her he would willingly have yeelded to death and resigned his life yet he no way to offend me did not onely conceal his love from Aureola but also occasion being offered him to talk with her did spend all that time in commendation of me protesting unto her that I was so faithfull constant and loyal that if she would dain to reward my love with love and if she did love me she would have cause to glory of her hap in fancying him and placing her love on him who would prove the faithfullest Amant that was in Italy Besides this he made divers verses in praise of her and together with sundry brave and precious jewels presented them vnto her saying that I had sent them whereas in truth I knew not any thing of them Insomuch that more by his industry then mine own diligence though I neglected no dutifull service required in that case at length I obtained the love of mine Aureola For she loved me so affectionately that I might judge her love to be of as great force as mine though indeed it was of such nature that it was divided between us both I mean my brother and me for we being so like one to other that we seemed to be but one we could not shun reciprocation in love but whosoever loved me could not but love him and whosoever loved him could not but love me And although I had certainly known that Aureola loved my brother equally with me as well as I did but guesse that it was so yet had I been nothing sorrie but rather rejoyced greatly that I had obtained so fair a Lady to be both my love and my brothers friend For in verity such was my affection towards him that I could not wish any thing to my self wholly without wishing part of it unto my brother being most ready always willingly to part from any thing which I knew he wished and with a good heart to cease and leave from desiring or wishing any such thing whatsoever he had a mind unto But my brother marking that Aureola could not tell which of us two she loved best or which of us was most worthy of her love and thereby equally loved us both was very sorry fearing least I might be grieved that I did not my self onely enjoy all the love of Aureola And therefore he began to exhort me to séek means to be joined unto her in marriage thinking that so shee should bee forced to withdraw her love from him and wholly be addicted to me being her wedded husband To effect which matter she continually urged Aureola to make promise of marriage unto me very forcibly perswading her thereto and telling her that I who thought my life no life but in respect of hers should never be able to live perfectly untill such time that I being united and tied unto her in the knot of wedlock might enjoy her as my wife untill which thing were brought to passe I should live a most lamentable life full of dolefull discontent Furthermore he promised her that if she would vouchsafe to condiscend to my honest desire and his earnest request he would move the King and Quéene to deale with her sister the Countesse and her other friends about the contracting this marriage and obtain their good will and consent thereto Aureola although she was very unwilling to do so yet because he should not think that she would not grant my request for that she equally loved him with me séemed to grant our request and to be willing to have the marriage contrived betwéen her and my self Yet she would not have any mention made of it unto any of the Court till thrée moneths were ended for certain respects which moved her to conceal the matter so long Which were none other as afterwards we knew by experience but such as proceeded from her own unwillingness to be tyed to me and so to be deprived of the love of my brother For it afterwards was manifested she so loved us both that she wished in her heart that she might have béen married to us both thinking that she should not perfectly have enjoyed one of us if any other woman had been married to the other judging that we were both but one and ought not to be separated And therefore above all things did she desire that she were beloved of us both séeing we were both engraved in her heart that she might not think of the one without remembring the other But my brother thinking that Aureola had a bonnefoy purposed after the time of three moneths expired to marry with me made me glad with the news which he brought me of her mind although himself therewith was utterly spoiled of his felicity and welfare which I came to know by this means It happened even
upon the expiring of thrée moneths on a certain morning betime that I rising somthing early walked abroad in the fields without the City to a little wsod not far off to recreate my self with a solitary walk being as it were wearied with the turbulent multitude of people both Citizens and Courtiers Which wood when I had but even entred me thought I heard one sorely lamenting his estate and by the voice knowing that it was my brothers I listened very attentively to know the cause of his complaints whom I heard thus to cry out against fickle fortune Yea Fortune yea Thou art Mistress and wilt be Mistress Philorenus must testifie the same and register in the bottome of his heart that he was born to be crossed by Fortune I thought that the Gods had forbidden thee to vex me any more but I perceive thou wilt do what thou wilt though heaven deny But accursed mayest thou be of heaven earth and hell for so denying mortal wights that thou séemest to have no Deity but such as is procured by the glory which thou takest in making men miserable Yet why do I so blame Fortune séeing that if another man were in my case he would think himself infinitely beholding to her in causing all things to fall out so agreeing to his humour For thou lovest Aureola how much thou knowest then séeing thou hast had sufficient token of her love towards thee and considering that he that loveth desireth nothing so much as mutualsy to be loved of her whom he doth love how canst thou complain of Fortune Again when your mind was such that you wished her to be wholly your brothers and desired that she should be his wife you sée al things happen to your pleasure considering that Aureola hath promised to marry her self to him and yet you will will exclaim against Fortune all this is true But the Hag doth let all things fall out according to my mind knowing that in doing so she doth most torment me For she hath made my life so miserable that no content can be harboured in my disquiet breast being the very habitacle of restless thoughts And in this thing is the means which she useth in vexing me contrary to all other mishaps and evils in that she vexeth me with effecting those things the effect of which I most wish for and desire Which thing how straÌ„ge it is I leave to the consideration of those that have the use of their wits séeing by fortunes envie I am my self deprived of that benefit Alack what shall then poor Philorenus do seeing he is so entangled in the love of Aureola that he must either die or injoy her as his own and yet so loveth his brother who cannot in like manner live if separated from the same Aureola thâ—t he will die a thousand deaths rather then be disloyal to him Die therefore Philorenus die and seeing there ore not as wel two Aureolas as there be two Philorenus's make thy self lifeless and thy brother happy he being one Philorenus alone and enjoying one onely Aureola And put case thou wert dead Philorenus and dead for no other purpose but to make thy brother happy in the highest degrée oh how swéet a death would such a death be unto thée But yet thou mightest be deceived for thou knowest nay so knowest that thou canst not doubt but that that life will be but a bitter life unto him thou being without life and so thou mightst by thy death procure to him either a bitter death or a life worse then any death What then resteth thrice miserable wretch if that thou canst neither live to thy mind nor die to thy mind Die living and live dying and yeeld thy heart to receive each print of grief that thou mayest always die being torn with tormenting pain and yet never be dead least thy plague rebound from thée to thy brother and therefore I bid thée farewel Aureola farewel my brother must enjoy thee and I must suffer you both After that he had so shut up his complaint as if he had signed it with the seal of death he fell down on the ground being unable to stand on his feet any longer there he lay strugling as if soul and body would have parted so strong and vehement was the pang that pinched him Insomuch that although I was loath to shew my self vnto him there lest he should know that I had heard and seen him yet compassion becomming master amongst my affections for that he needed help in that case forced me to runne happily to him to aid him But he no sooner espied me but leaped up again so suddenly that if I had not both seen and heard his former scrikes and cries I would have surely been perswaded that he did but shew me a tumbling trick and that he had been exercising his body to some acts of nimblenesse And besides also before I could salute him by reason that I so marvelled at the strangenesse of his change he spake unto me so chearfully that I could scarce answer him for admiring at the force which his love towards me had suddenly procured him His legs were scarce able to hold his body and seeing me his heart commanded them to support him his eys which were so hiddeÌ„ with the tears which he shed that no man could have séen them as soon as they beheld me séemed to have recalled the flouds that came out of them and to have in a moment swallowed them up and his face which did as it were swim in tears seemed to drink up the moisture at my comming as the morning dew vanisheth in the presence of Phoebus when he sendeth his golden beams from his fiery chariot to cherish the pleasant fruits of the earth after they have wept by reason of the dark coldnesse of the mirthlesse night Wherefore I séeing that my brotherly brother was so loth to make me acquainted with his passions onely because he would not give me occasion of grief but kept it all to himself I dissembled as much as I could lest I should by letting him know what I knew quite discomfort him and truly make him comfortlesse And although by reason of that which I knew of him pity caused such grief in me for his discomfort and passionate torment that I think if he had not been in place I had sunk to the ground for a stronger foundation to hold up my distracted body oppressed and weighed down by the heavinesse of passing sorrow then my legs which séemed to shake like the pillors of a Church that is falling yet neverthelesse for that time I plucked up my spirits and though not so wel able as he yet as wel as I could I dissembled my passion and answered him as chearfully as possibly I might entertaining him with such talk as I thought most expedient to cause him not to misdoubt of any thing Insomuch that he neither thought that I had heard him nor knew that I felt the pain which he
himself suffered And after we had there walked an half hour or thereabout we returned both of us together to the Court. And as we passed by the Countesse Verina's Garden he espied the Countesse walking all alone whereupon he began to urge me in any case not to let that occasion slip but that I should go unto her and make her acquainted with the love and affection betwéen me and her sister Aureola and that he would go with me to bear me company and to perswade the Countess to consent to the contracting of a marriage betwéen me and Aureola He said furthermore considering the thrée moneths which Aureola appointed to have the matter during that time concealed were expired he had the day before spoken with the King concerning this matter and that his Majesty had promised him to be wholly ours in this point as he had ever before béen in many other and besides told him some things which he should make relation of to the Countesse concerning this match And to tell the truth he grew so importunate to have me go to the Countesse in all hast that I knew not how to shift off this readinesse But because I had purposed to bring that to passe which I will by and by shew unto you I found this excuse to delay our conference with the Countesse that mistresse Aureola for certain causes had urged me to promise her that I would not speak unto her sister concerning any thing touching her before I forewarned her or let her know both that I would do it and the time when I would do it Which promise quoth I being passed I may not break it Whereupon he well contented séemed to take my excuse so well that he rather liked of my unwillingnesse to go to the Countesse then persevered to perswade me thereunto So that we went both to my lodging where we began to read certain chronicles of the ancient estate of Italy things done in times past in the Kingdome of Naples to drive away the rest of the time till dinner were ready that we might have some ancient history or other to delight the King and the Queen withall while they dined For they took such delight in hearing their predecessours déeds and sayings that we could not have done them a greater pleasure then to rehearse either some pretty saying or some other worthy act of such Kings or Quéens as had before them swayed the scepter of Naples But not to be that which I am loath to be I mean tedious unto you noble Princes and shepheards I will hasten to that which I even now promised to let you know concerning that which I had certainly of rips counsell in my heart concluded to do after I knew by my brothers passions that he himself loved Aureola and yet continually furthered my desire to his uttermost part For indeed I was fully resolved to leave Aureola unto him and my self to the hazard of fortune and being so resolved I performed no lesse CHAP. XXXIII How Philorenus the elder secretly left the Court of Naples and how his brother and Aureola went to seek him severally THe next morning I departed very secretly from the Court for Cinqueni thinking to inquire whether I might hear any thing of my father and to be certainly informed whether he were slain among the other unhappy inhabitants or by hap fled and so avoided the furious slaughter which many suffered But before I departed on the cover-lid of a looking-glasse that was in my brothers chamber window I wrote him this farewell I Philo * to * Renus THou which to deck by workman formed art Serve to unfold the cause which made me go And without leave my brother leave and part From Court wherein my onely joy doth grow Love bad me to enjoy my love and stay And love commanded me to go away Self-love would have me stay and means procure Loading my self with grief my self to ease considering therefore well the matter sure Self-love doth bid me go my self to please For who else is my brother but my self And tendring him right tender I my self Then know my self the cause which made me part Was love which warned me from love to cease For of two loves my heart felt double smart One love gave place that the other might increase Injoy thine Aureola for I am gone And therefore gone that she should be thine own After my brother had missed me marvelling where I should be so long he went to his chamber to drive away the time and to deceive the tedious hours with some kind of reading exercise thinking that I had been somewhere abroad in the fields in my solitary haunt and that I would ere long return to the Court. And leaning on his window he chanced to spie something written on the cover-lid of his looking glasse which he might ealsiy do by reason that I had written with red ink the lid being of white ivory And so taking it in his hand he read the verses which I had left there to yeeld a reason for my sudden departure But he being ravished into admiration and by admiration led into astonishment fell in an extasie Which extasie he being by himself alone and therefore deprived of help in such a case required had almost brought him to his last home Yet after he had a long time lain in a trance he came at last to himself again and then began to curse and rail at fortune for dealing so partially with him in revealing that unto me the revealing of which onely could make him miserable Insomuch that now he knew that which before he not once mistrusted to wit that I the other morning had in the wood heard him lament his ill fortune whereby I knew that which I also never dreamed of concerning his loving of Aureola But so grievously did he take my absence that all his body received the disposition that is caused by a disquiet soul and his face became the very subject of sorrow his countenance being mournfull and his eys being grown to be the very seats of tears Insomuch that whereas no man as yet could suspect or dream that I should be so gone as I was yet seeing him so wofully fashioned straightways judged that he could not be so altered but upon such a cause and whereas they should have known that he was so distempered by reason of my so being gone they contrarily knew of my being gone by reason that he was so distempered To be short he was so tortured by the Butchers of Greece that he was almost deprived of his wits and the use of his understanding and the rather because he was brought in doubtfull resolution whether he should leave Aureola and follow me or leave me and comfort Aureola lest ranging after me through unknown places he should both lose me and himself also He therefore being drawen now to this conclusion now to that hung in the air hovering between heaven and earth not knowing whether he were best by slight
and sobs that he could scarce with much ado speak embracing us all one after another to take his leave and bid us farewell before the hour of eminent shipwrack was come It would be a great enterprise and difficult matter for me presently to recount what tears Aloda wept and what grief I suffered for her sake and therefore I will onely tell you one thing that nothing so much grieved me as that my life which I had offered for her service could not take end without her death In the mean time our forlorn ship driven with the force of the angry waves and furious winds which blew so marvellous strongly flying all night though the streight of Gilbatan more swiftly then we wished or served our turn the next day went astray I know not how many leagues into the large Mediterrean sea Where after that we had long wandred hither and thither the force of the wind and waves driving us up and down for the space of that dry and night the next morning the tempest séemed to be something asswaged and the rufull waves abating their courage Neptune spread a pleasant calm over the sea wherewith we were not a little cheared But fortune not contented to have heaped such a world of calamities upon us would also take her pleasure in mocking us in the midst of miseries For on the suddain the wished calm was turned into a worse and greater extream tempest then before which brought us into such extreamity that we hoped not for one hour of life At last one side of the ship being strooken with a great raging whirlwind the other side lay flat upon the water and was in danger to sink presently When I saw the manifest danger I began to ungird my sword to the end it might not hinder me and imbracing Alcida I leaped with her into the ship boat Clenarde being a light and nimble Gentlewoman following us did the same not leaving behind her bow and arrows for that she estéemed more of that than of some great and precious treasure Polidor thrusting his father forwards thought to have done as much and to have leaped into the boat as we had done but the ship-Master with another Marriner leaped in before them And as Polidor with his aged father thought to have followed the boat was separated from the ship by reason of a mighty wave which was driven by the wind betwixt the ship and the boat so that they were forced to remain in the ship the sight whereof in short time we lost and never since heard any news of her But I am of opinion that all doubt removed she was swallowed up by Neptunes greedy waves or that crossing overthwart the Sea she perished miserably on the coast of Spain How Bartophamus the Pylot by Treason left Alcida in the Isle Formentaria and Marcelio in the Isle Juique and carried away Clenarde and what ensued PErierio and his sisters listening to Marcelio's discourse he proceeded in this manner Alcida Clenarde and I being in the boat conducted by the industry and diligent painfulnesse of the Marriners we went astray up and down the seas for the space of one whole day and night attending for Death from hour to hour without hope of any remedy not knowing where or in what part of the world we were This notwithstanding the morning next following we perceived that we were very near to land endeavouring to row as near it as we could possibly At the length the two Marriners being very cunning in swimming did not onely leap into the water to swim to the shore but also drew us all to that so long desired land After we were so happily delivered from the danger which furious Neptune threatned us the Marriners fastened their ship-boat to the shore side and knowing the place where we landed told us we were in the Isle of Formentera and wonderfully marvelled that we had run so many miles in so little time But they had such experience of the wonders that fierce tempests are accustomed to do that they were not too much amazed at the course of our navigation Yet howsoever the tempest had driven us we were then assured and out of danger of the menaces wherewith fortune feared us amidst the inexorable waves But we were so gréeved for the losse of Eugerio and Polydor so troubled with wearinesse and so famished with hunger that we had none or little cause to rejoice of the life which we had recovered Neither will I now rehearse what tears Alcida and Clenarde shed because they had lost their father and brother to the end that I may tell you the sorrowful and unhappy successe which I had in that desart and solitary Isle For after that by reason we were arrived in the same I was delivered from the fury of the sea love became such an adversary and enemy unto me that he séemed to be grieved that my life was saved from the pecil of the tempest and that he would torment me with a new and more grievous pain when I thought my self to be in safety For malicious Cupid wounded the heart of the Pylot who was called Bartophamus and rendred him so far in love of the beauty of Clenarde the sister to Alcida that to attain to the point of his intended desires he forgot the law of friendship and fidelity and imagined a strange and wicked treason which he did put in execution Which was such As the two sisters wept and grievously lamented their fathers and brothers miserable death it happened that Alcida overcome with heavinesse and wearinesse she lay down on the sand and fell a sléep Whereupon I began to say to the Pylot friend Bartophamus if we take not some order to provide for victuals and if our ill luck be such that we can find none we may make account we have not saved our lives but rather that we have changed the manner and kind of our death and therefore would I that you and your companion should go to some village or burrough of this Isle which thou may find to fetch meat for us to eat Sir Marcelio answered Bartophamus fortune hath done us pleasure enough in bringing us hither and helping us to arrive at this Isle though it be desart and barren And you must not think that we shall here find any meat to asswage our hunger and remedy our necessity for the country is not inhabited But I will tell you how we may find means to suffer no hunger do you sée yonder litle Isle that lieth right over against us in that Isle there is great quantity of Dear Conies Hares and many other beasts There is also a Hermitage where the Hermite hath good store of bread and meal Therefore I am of this advice that it were good that Clenarde whose dexterity and cunning in shooting is not unknown unto you should passe over to that Isle and carry her bow and arrows which she hath here with her kill some Hart or Doe I and my companion
child taken such order that he should never be heard of And therefore he never thought any otherwise but that I was dead But after he had heard this rumor spread through the City of me he began to think how women are pittyfull therefore doubted whether the midwife had caused me to be fostred or no in that place because he should not hear of me he considered also that my parents had told him divers times that I was not dead but lost or rather stoln though in truth they thought I was dead and imagined that the midwife had but made them to understand that I was lost or stoln to diminish their grief with hope He considered also that the midwife was no woman to be the mother of the child her self-séeing that she had béen widow a long time and was above 70 years old when she died which age was not convenient for wantonnesse to be short he concluded that it was I and fearing lest if the nurse should make too diligent search to find out my parents it might at length come to my fathers ear and himself thereby deprived of his heredity he caused the nurse to come unto him and told her that séeing no man would father me he would have me brought up to be his page séeing that I was a pretty fair complexioned boy And agréeing with her for my board charged her to let me want nothing and to use me well After that time he came oftentimes to the place where the nurse dwelt to sée whether I was wel handled and sent me apparel by his men and money to discharge my expences for my board When I was about ten or eleven years of age he took me from that place and made me his page but in truth he used me as if I had béen his brother rather then his boy by reason whereof my father though I then did not yet know that he was my father made the more of me for my cousin dwelled with my father and was as his son In the mean time I thought my self most happy séeing that I had no father to have hit upon so good a master Whom I served as faithfully as he dearly loved me After I had served him the space of thrée or four years his father by adoption and my father by right though fortune had beguiled nature died and my mother within thrée moneths after his burial So that my master being in possession of all my fathers goods lands and lordships began to Court all the chiefest gentlewomen of the city thinking himself worthy to be matched with the chiefest Among all others unto whom he made love he chiefly offered his service to the daughter of a Spanish Knight that lived in Constantinople called Don Francesco de guerdona a man of great valour wealth and policy So that my master to obtein the love of fair Eleonora for so was the gentlewoman called sued sought watched warded praied protested and did what service a man might be said to do in the behalf of his mistresse sometimes he plaied late in the night before her window on his Lute Cytharen Bandora sometimes he turneyed and justed in her presence to move her to love him for his manhood and sometimes he sent her lettters songs and sonnets therein bewraying his passions hoping she would receive him to her servant being overcome with pity But all served not for she could no way be moved to bear him affection whereat I marvelled greatly nor could not imagine at the cause thereof For he was a brave valiant young Gent. of great authority and estimation favoured by fortune as wealthy rich and abundant exorned by nature being beautifull and fair of complexion tall and well proportioned and of a couragious and resolute mind wise politick and witty All which considered no man could but condemn the Gentlewoman of cruelty séeing that no man so faithfully served her as sir Sylvestro for so was my master called But at length I had sufficient occâ—siâ—n offered me not to marvel any longer at her frowardnesse towards my master For Eleonoras mind was more setled on the Page thâ—t was wont to bring her letters and papers wherein was his masters message then on him that sent them Which she at last shewed and bewrayed so openly that I began to perceive what affection she bore me and how she both despighted and despised my master For I being sent unto her upon a certain morning with a pair of silken garters from my master all edged with gold and invironed with pearls most sumptuously and artificially wrought she taking the garters out of my hand gave me a Portugal Crusado being worth sir English Angels for my pains Whereof I was very glâ—d partly because I was so wel rewarded and partly because I thought she began to make more account of my master in accepting the present so bountifully rewarding the messenger But as I was departing out of the house to let my master know of the good news hoping thereby to have augmented my Crusado with my masters liberallity she called me again and leading me into her bed-chamber alone burst out into these words Ah Mâ—â—teo thou doest serve thy master too trustily to do me pleasure and thou art an instrument against thine own welfare How so Madam quoth I I will soon shew thee how quoth she but first you must tell me whether you think not that he hindereth himself that sueth to obtein that thing for another which is wished unto himself Yea Madam quoth I. Then replied she do you harm your self in indeavouring by your carefull painfull industrious and diligent service to satisfie your masters desire in that he wisheth her to be his wife unto whom thy self mayest be a wedded husband And so if thou grant that thou wouldest be glad of such a wife as Eleonora I conclude that thou strivest against thine own commodity and that thou art an instrument against thine own self When I heard her conclusion it so well liked me that I considered not whether the consequence followed according to the premises or no. Yet howsoever it was so contrived that it set me at a non plus insomuch that I stood amâ—ed and knew not what betided me I had never yet followed the Court of Cupid though I had served one of his souldiers and therefore I was to séek of mine answer and wist not what to say Notwithstanding that I felt an amourous passion creeping in my heart contrary to any motion that I had felt before For I know not how my thoughts were surprized with love after Eleonora had argued in such order with me and I feared that she had béen but in some merry vein to iest taking her pastimes in mocking with me And therefore I made this answer Madam you are very mery this morning whatsoever the matter is God grant it be towards your good luck And you are the bolder with me because you may But least my master long for my coming I
beséech you to tell me whether it will please you to command me any service for I must hast homeward None other quoth she but that thou thank him for his present and give him this from me which is no lesse worth then his and so I do owe him nothing Wherewith she reached me a Hat that was sent her father from a Spanish Duke being a most costly Iewel I therefore taking my leave she bid me farewell adding this clause to shut up her Vale Molest me no more for thy master do for thy self what thou wilt Maffeo To be short I returned unto my master with such answer as Eleonora commanded me But I began to be so love-sick that I knew not how it was possible that a man might be so greatly altered and so wonderfully changed in so short a time Within a few days after my master had prepared a letter to be sent to Elconora which I put in my pocket and walked up and down the streets not far from the place where she dwelled and when I thought good I returned home with such answer as my brains could invent and so I served my master obeying the command of Eleonora Who was so fixed in my heart that I could not be separated from the thought of her beauty and excellency one minute of an hour And though I sought by all means possible to extinguish the fire that consumed me least at length it might grow to an unquenchable flame al helped not I strove against the stream and to go about to root out the sparkles of love was as hard a matter for me as it were to any man to pluck the stars out of the christaline orb wherein they be sixed Therefore at length not able to endure any longer I wrote Eleonora a Letter to this effect Maffeo to Elonora LAdy the extream pain which my overburthened heart doth fuffer causeth me to let you understand the greatness thereof I was in liberty but you have brought me into bondage I mean of the mind I was free from those butchers the affections which torture the hearts of men but now by you am delivered into the hands of those cruell vexations which so poster my passionate heart that I am forced to flie unto your mercy Pity therefore your poor Maffeo least he die who if he hath been too bold in bewraying his grief and torment unto you hopeth himself to be excused in that your self are the cause thereof Farewell Lady and think on poor Maffeo She had no sooner received my Letter but she sent me this bitter answer which she did but to try my constancy as afterwards it very well appeared The contents were such Eleonora to base Maffeo I Perceive Maffeo that baseness and fondness strive in thy heart for superiority of which foolish strife I mean not to be an arbitress Could you find no fitter person then my self to part the fray Poor â—wad could thy tongue pronounce in my presence which thy heart cannot perceive in mine absencee and cannot you with deep study having had all this time attain to the knowledge of my humour whereas notwithstanding extempore you gave so right a censure of my vein When Eleonora mocketh thou must not imagine that she meaneth and when she jesteth thou must not think that she is in earnest As for the loss of thy liberty not I but thy base ignorance and dul wit is the cause thereof But grant I were do always they that imprison set at liberty No many are taken by one and delivered by another Leave thy fondness Maffeo least I have cause to hate thee for I may not love thee I bid the farewell for I wish thee no evill And therefore take heed thou offer me no occasion thereto Ye may suppose gentle shepheards how coldly that letter comforted distressed Maffeo when he expected the sentence of life or death But then I perceived that she had but mocked with me when she used her merry prittle prattle unto me in her chamber at her own house yet ceased not to burn and fry in the furious flames of my burning passions and so remained as long as I could striving against love like a valiant champion and passed over two moneths in continual skirmishes against Cupid but alasse who was compelled to yéeld at length but I that fought against a God of such force and puissance insomuch that I chose rather to die then to live without the love of Eleonora and in all hast dispatched another letter which I secretly conveyed unto her the meaning where of was much to this purpose Maffeo to Eleonora LAdy I am loath to molest you and yet cannot chuse but trouble you Love hath so conquered the bulwark of my heart that I have determined to offer my life for your service I know that Eleonora did mock and doth now disdain but I am forced to suffer and am ready to die because both mocked and disdained by her in whom my life consisteth And therefore though by fortune I am base as you urged yet by nature I find the contrary in that noble Eleonora is the subject of my restless thoughts You willed me to take heed lest I should give you occasion to hate me if I do though it grieve me yet I cannot help it Nevertheless so you give me leave to love you I shall be content though you hate me Farewell Vnto this Letter she sent me no answer but it happened within two or three days after that she had read it that I had occasion to passe through the stréet where she dwelled she séeing me and sitting in the dore alone called me unto her and brake forth into these bitter words Why Maffeo thinkest thou not that thou doest me displeasure enough to trouble me with thy odious letters but must you also fret me with the sight of thy ignominious person I have wished these two days that I might sée thee to cast out all the anger and spight unto which thou hast moved me upon thée But séeing thou hast vowed thy life to my service I mean to try thy faithfulnesse and obedience and yet desire not to have thy life I command thee therefore to carry this letter unto thy master Sylvestro but I will allow thee to read it before I seal it With that she felt in her pocket and with her hand in colour like to Juno when she braved the Quéen of love for the golden apple before the Troyan youth drew forth the letter and bid me read it The meaning I remember to be such Eleonora to Sylvestro THe knavery of your Maffeo hath given me occasion to use your service Sylvestro Therefore if I may be so bold with you I would intreat you to punish his knavish sawciness for because he seeth I make little account of his masters feigned love he offereth me letters wherein he painteth his own passions I have admonished and warned him to leave his peevishnesse but seeing he despiseth my warning let him fear your threatening
and that I was onely heire to the Dukedome to the end that I might be carefully brought up and well looked unto he caused me to be brought to the Court where I waighted on the Quéen who made as great account of me as if I had been her daughter And to the end that I might perceive the love and affection she and her husband the King did bear me I was honoured with the title of a Duchesse and disposer of all my fathers signiores and Lordships yea of the Dukedom also at mine own pleasure neither did the King withhold from me any part of the revenues thereof so that I lived in as great joy as any mortal maid might for I wanted nothing that I was able to think of I was loved and favoured both of the King and Quâ—en and therefore honoured of all the country But alack this my felicity was too great to be perpetuall and I was seated too high to escape the stormy blasts of adversity The tall Oaks are shaken with the winds and the climing stéeples rent with the thunder clap where the low brambles féel not the fury of the wind nor the base cottage the force of the storm The tops of high mountains are chopped through Apollos heat where the low plains and green medows are beautified with flowers and being cherished with Phoebus rays produce swâ—et hearbs and yeeld food to the shepheards flocks And so poor Brisilla lifted up to high estate triumphing in Court and glorying in her happinesse is brought in this most miserable torment whereas many simple maids and countrey wenches injoy sweet content and passe their lives in supream pleasure You shall therefore understand loving shepheards that I being 15 years of age or thereabout the young prince was sent for by the King from the Vniversity for the Qeen had purposed to marry me unto him Who being about eight or ten moneths younger then my self was thought too young to be married so soon but the Queen fearing least some one or other for there was many noble mens sons of great houses and high descent in the Court should win my heart and love used the matter so that few or none could have my company but her son whom she wished to be matched with none but my self And in truth by reason of our daily conversation at length grew such familiarity and acquaintance between Periander and me that love creeping into our hearts united us together and of two bodies made but one heart one will one desire one pleasure and one mind Insomuch that the Queen yea and all the Court began to perceive the affection that we did bear one to another Suppose shepheards what a pleasure it was both to the King his wife and most of all the noblemen of the realm yea generally to all men in the country to see such likelihood of a marriage which they so earnestly wished and greedily desired And dy that time that Periander had reached to the age of eighteen years the King fearing least delay might breed danger and my affection to chaÌ„ge or his sons mind alter called us both into his chamber and in presence of the Queen his wife spake unto us after this manner intending to try our constancy Marvell not my son Periander nor you young Duches that I have sent for you hither for I will not keep close the cause thereof Know therefore that my pleasure is that you Periander love not Lady Brisil any longer have I sent for you from the Vniversity to court your mothers maids Did I cal you to the Court to learn how to play Mars in the field and do you take upon you so young to serve Venus in the chamber you are but a boy yet Periander and therefore unfit for love And you Lady Brisill have we shewed you such friendly entertainment in the Court and honored you with such an high estate to allure our son to fancy you where I purposed to marry him to the King of Portugals eldest daughter heir apparent to the crown of Portugal thy father the deceased Duke was a man of great desert but his daughter not so worthy as to become a Queen Be contented with the title of a Duchess Lady Brisil and reach not so high a bough as a crown for thou mayest both misse of thy purpose and incur danger to lose their favour in whom consisteth your welfare Therefore I exhort you both to leave these familiar meetings these lovely Salves which you give one to another in the morning curteous good nights you bid one another in the evening also those pleasant smiles passionate looks and continual winks wherewith you favour one an other will I have you not to use any longer And to be short I forbid you to use company one with the other any more Periander hearing his father concluded so peremptory against his bliss answered Then father my Lord and Soveraign if it please your Majesty to seperate me from the conversation of Duches Brisil I beseech you to give me leave to separate my self from the company of all men and with that he drew his dagger and would have wounded his loving heart with the sharp point thereof had not his Mother the Quéen hindred his intent holding his arme As for me I was so perplexed both at the Kings words and his rashness that I fell on the ground in such manner that the king himself thinking that I had been dead ran from his chair of estate and lifted me from the ground calling Lady Brisil speak speak Lady Brisil young Queen of Albion speak but one word But I lay in that extasie a good hour All which time the King the Queen and all that were present but especially Periander were so grieved that none of them could abstain from wéeping The King called the Quéen hallowed in mine eares with a lamentable voyce and Periander almost breathless being choaked with excéeding sorrow which he conceived could neither call nor cry At length with much ado I came to my self and stood upright to the joy of all those that had heard of my mischance Whereupon the King told us that he had used his formor words but to learne whether our love was firm intending if I liked of Periander and Periander of me as of man and wife to marry us together To be short before we departed from the King he sent for some of the chiefest Noblemen and in their presence Periander made promise never to marry other woman then my self and in like manner affirmed that I was content to have him to my husband and would die rather then be married to any other So that our marriage was presently concluded and the wedding to be a month after CHAP. XIV How Massicourt betrayed the Prince Periander and sold him to the Moores for a Gally-slave and the sorrow that was made for his absence IMagine loving Shepheards what joy there was through the country when it was reported that the young Prince and
which otherwise I should suffer for the absence of Periander How far do you run beyond reason for I will have you know that such love as you talk of yea the very memory thereof onely should be a whetstone to sharpen my grief seeing there is nothing more painful or odious unto me than that which draweth my mind from thinking on Periander and encumbereth my thoughts with matters taking away the remembrance of Periander thinking no time il spent but that wherein I shed not tears for Periander Therefore cease to molest me seeing the sum of your delight consisteth in pleasing me After Massicourt had received this Letter he durst not so often molest me Northelesse of purpose he came divers times to the Court preasing near the privy chamber to have occasion to speak with me but I could watch him as well to shun him as he could watch me to talk with me In so much that since I wrâ—te him that Letter I spake with him but once at which time I so sharply rebuked his importunity seeing that no mild or courteous spéeches could serve that a long time he absented himself from the Court. At length when I thought surely that I had been altogether rid of such a troublesome sutor on the sudden he greeted me upon a certain morning being but newly risen And although I was alone yet I was so angry that I turned my face from him and would not speak unto him This happened to my remembrance twice or thrice after which time I saw him no more But about thrée weeks after a little casket covered with a cloth of gold was brought me whereon there was written this inscription in golden letters My Supreme will and pleasure is that this be given to Dutchesse Brisil I marvelling what that meant asked the messenger who sent it or to what end To which he answered that he that sent it is not now but living was called Sir Massicourt Who being in his chamber quoth the messenger this morning willed me to go into the next room till he called me and that I should presently carry the casket which I should find upon the table to Duâ—hesse Brisil when I had stayed there three or four hours I marvelled what my master did there so long alone and péeping through the crease of the chamber door I saw him lie breathless on the ground and so amazed I stepped in and found this casket what is in it I know not and so the messenger being Sir Massicourts chamberlain departed I opening the casket found a dagger all bloudy on the blade whereof was this message ingraven in such small letters that I could scarce read it Go tell the Queen that in my heart inthron'd Doth sway the scepter of my haughty mind That thou hast pierct the seat whereon she sate And overcome the Kingdome which she rul'd That thou hast massacred that Massicourt Whereover she so proudly tyranniz'd That thou hast drowned all his thoughts in bloud Who loved her as never wight was lov'd That thou hast rid him from her cruell face Who prais'd her beauty to the sovereign skies That thou hast sent him to the groves of hell That deem'd his heaven consisted in her grace That thou hast ended his exceeding pain Whose grief her mercy would not mittigate And that thou hast his torment finished Whom she for cruel caused to dispair This do and let the colour of thy coat Give to the butcher of my death a note In what case I was loving shepheards after I had read that message and béen informed of that rufull tragedy I will not now declare For the sorrow which I conceived for the end of Massicourt was incredible Besides what a suddain rumor was spread through the Court of his death you may consider insomuch that I need not to stand upon that point But I will passe on to the rest of my misery For within thrée or four moneths after the decease of sir Massicourt I got a stronger enemy to my content then Massicourt for the King himself though he was above fifty years of age solicited me to give over all remembrance of his son and yéeld to his request which was to become his wife and be crowned with the diadem of Albion Yet could not that precious object alter the mind of Brisil or any whit in her diminish the memory of Periander But the King knowing that he might command when he perceived that I could not be induced by prayers fair words lofty promises and other allurements to grant his sute soon used the tyranous sentence of all those that may do what they will Sic volo sic jubeo stat pro ratione voluntas And thought to try whether he could by threatnings and menaces obtain that which by fair means I would not consent unto but all could not help for except death onely nothing could take from me that faith and promise which I made to Periander And whilest the King I thus strove he in loving I in hating a letter was brought to the Court from the King of Spain wherein he informed the King that his son Periander was with him intending to be in Albion with his father and loving Brisil very shortly But that he had sent a messenger before his coming that they should be informed of his health and fortune could scarce believe it but that they saw it was manifest séeing the Prince Periander had written that Massicourt was by the Pylot Barsalis cast over-board and yet notwithstanding he complained not of Barsalis but agréed with him in the report of the tempest which was none Besides that love which he bore me was sufficient proof of his treason For he sent us the whole declaration of the treason practised by Barsalis against him He also informed us how he had heard of the Quéen his mothers death whereof he was very sorry The King having received these Letters at the first was glad that his son was living and caused Barsalis to be apprehended who with a little racking confessed the whole matter and appeached the Admirals son that was dead as the Author and cause of all that he had executed Whereat the whole world so marvelled that they could scarce beleeve it And whereas many had pitied the Knights lamentable and tragical end now they judged him rewarded according to his deserts And I for my part was so inraged against him that if he had yet lived I beleeve I had with my owne hands wrung his head from his shoulders for he was the cause of all my calamities The King caused Barsalis to be hanged and quartered and in the place where Massicourt that politick traytor was buried did he command a gibbet to be set up reaching over his Tombe and this written on the top of it in great letters Here lieth entomb'd a Knight of ancient fame An Earls son Sir Massicourt by name This Knight for love an heinous treason tri'd Yet could not help he pierc'd his heart and di'd He was
but yet in such order that my besmouged chéeks were died with a vermilion red at the sight of Periander But Florina imputing the change of my hue to shamefastnesse and thinking I being a simple swad was abashed to sée my self in their presence bid me come néer her boldly saying she meant to be my patient to sée whether I knew by the lineaments of her hâ—nd what Fortune she had and was like to have Imagine gentle shepheards what mind I had either to tell her fortune or to give her an answer being in that case yet taking all the courage that in such extremity could cleave to my heart I said My skill is too small to conjecture of so high constellations for I hold opinion that the destinies of those that are of such noble descent as your self are more intricate then the constellation of base persons and therefore if my divinations prove false or little agréeing to the truth I leave your Grace to be burdened with the blame séeing it is your pleasure that I should conjecture of your luck and not my own presumption And therefore thus much I wil say of your fortune I wil not touch your Parentage wealth honor and likelihood of great renown for that is known to all the world but I wil tel you of that which is most doubtful and more delightful unto you as my simple knowledge teacheth me for unless I am deceived you love Lady and that most loyally but I sée one doubt which is like to redound to your sorrow that you shall have a shrewd enemy to your desire and a terrible foe to your wished love And to yield you reason of my divination mark the line of affection in your hand it is streight a token of pure love and faithful affection accompanied with loyalty and these two short wrinkles which you see of each side of the forsaid line are token of the cross you are like to indure in obtaining you hearts ease Neither would I have your grace to think that the clause of this ill success dependeth onely on the person who hath your heart in hold for there be many events and chances that we cannot foreknow or forethink which may breed your sorrow But hoping that your Grace is minded as the Astrologian that said Inclinationes non sunt edicta praetorum that inclinations be not ordinances and decrees of Maiors shall be able to command the stars and rule over them according to that old saying Sapiens hominabiter astris I am glad thou takest me to be so wise Egyptian replied Florina But I pray thee canst thou not tell me more particularly of some adventure to come No truly Madam quoth I may it please your Grace to bear with my rudeness and ignorance which is not able to content your pleasure and satisfie your mind concerning this point Why then quoth she let me know what you can say to this Gentleman for I hope as I admitted him to hear my luck so he will not be angry if I hear his fortune But Periander as I well perceived knew me for I saw his face receive such divers colors and his countenance altered so suddenly that Florina marvelled what had befallen unto him that he stood so perplexed for he conceived infinite pleasure in séeking his onely joy so néer him and contrarily he was grieved that I found him with Florina fearing lest I should suspect him less constant and so my self less faithful Florina beholding Periander wist not what to say and although I was sorry to see him in that taking yet because I knew the occasion and reason thereof I was the better contented hoping that it was no more then I thought it to be and that he was led in a trance by my unexpected presence Yet I was commanded by Florina to depart she thinking it now no time to tell any more fortunes And so I was forced to leave poor Periander before he was come to himself although I feared that as my presence had strucken him so my departure would kill him Neverthelesse séeing there was no remedy I took it as patiently as I could and away I went though I was not permitted to go far for the Maids of the house so flung about me and kept such adoe with me to know the sequel of their fortunes and to have me fully resolve them in all points which they desired to know séeing I was so hastily called from them by Florina that I had not half satisfied them before that I could scarce get from them And my luck was such that while I was busie with answering to their questions the Gaolor had heard that Florina was missed in the Court and looked for to come to the Queen her mother which when he had signified unto her she stayed not but incontinently hied to the Court Periander therefore by this time being restored to his wits and séeing both time and place serve to talk with me in secret to the end that I should not be discried willed the Gaolor to bid me to come unto him for that he earnestly desired to confer with me about the nature of certain hearbs that grow in Aegypt and other peculiar matters To be short the Gaolor sent me in to Periander and there left me with him alone where he came and embraced me his eyes distilling and gushing forth whole streames of teares saying Brisil Brisil pardon mee that you were not by mee welcommed and entertained at your arrivall according to your deserts and my duty For where necessity nippeth all must obey And doubt not that Leander had béene more welcome to loving Ero if the swelling waves had not hindred his journey by glutting themselves with his carkasse and so stayed him from the wished Tower unto which he was swimming then thou most worthy Brisil to thy faithfull Periander It were too long for me worthy Shepheards to declare what other cherishments and loving congratulations that hee made To be short we talked of many matters as you may well think of Sir Massicourts Conspiration and treason especially which was the first step to all our troubles of the Quéenes death of the Kings unnaturall tyranny of my secret flight of our Fortune on the Sea of my Master to be short there was nothing raked up in silence that concerned our fortune At length the chiefest matter and hardest point of all our conference was offered when as we having informed each other of all our adventures since that time that we were by the policy of traiterous Massicourt separated entred into consultation what we might do to shun the eminent danger which was like to fall upon us by reason of the Kings wrathfulnesse And after we had long deliberated now intending to use this means now that at length we concluded to take the vantage of the time séeing that by means of Florina Periander was not kept so straightly but that he might go secretly out of the prison and walk whither he would to take the air
in a black Velvet Gowne with a large Veile of precious Lawne over her head accompanied with three beautifull Nymphs resembling the stately Goddesse Juno when she went to intreat Aeolus to disturb the Seas when Aeneas sayled towards Latium Arethee espying her advertised all the company that it was the Lady Felicia and the three Nymphs Doride Cynthia and Polidora And approaching near unto her fell down at her féet and saluted her as in like manner Marcelio with the rest of his company did in all submisse and humble manner Felicia séemed to be wonderfully pleasant for their arrivall and spake unto them with a most chearfull countenance saying Worthy Knights Ladies and notable shepheards howbeit that the pleasure which I take in this your presence is great yet that content which you shall reap by mine shal be no lesse But forasmuch as you are overtravelled by reason of your wearisome journey go now take your rest and forget your sorrows séeing the one cannot be wanting unto you in my house and I am to take care for the other by means of my skill They thanked her most humbly and finally took their leave of her but she caused Polydor and Clenarde to stay with her saying she had something to say unto them but the others were led by Arethee to a side place of the Pallace where they were feasted that night and provided of all things necessary for their cherishment and rest This house was so sumptuous and magnificent garnished with such rich moveables and beautified with such delightfull gardens orchâ—rds rivers and fountains that there is nothing comparable to the excellency thereof Marcelio Maffeo Perierio with Ismenia and the Lady Brisil were lodged in that part of the pallace which abutted upon the garden in sundry chambers being hanged with cloth of of gold and most precious tapistry wrought with admirable cunning Supper was prepared for them most magnificently and it was served up unto them in vessels of Gold and Christal And when the night was approached and bed time at hand they were laid on such good and easie beds that howbeit their bodies were wearied by travel yet the softnesse of the delicate down with the hope which Felicia had given them provoked them to a most pleasant and swéet sléep On the other side the Lady Felicia with Polydor and Clenarde whom she willed to make no mention of the arrival of Marcelio and the rest of his company went into one of her most pleasant gardens where Eugerio walked alone his daughter Alcida onely being by him who although she yet had on the same shepheardlike apparel that she did wear at her first comming there neverthelesse was incontinently known of her brother and sister Polydor and Clenarde It were impossible for me to expresse the joy which old Eugerio made for the happy méeting of al his children whom he so dearly loved embracing them one after another and welcomming Polydor and Clenarde with flâ—uds of tears flowing out of his aged eys Alcida greatly welcommed Polydor her brother and Clenarde her sister but farre more affectionately cherished him then Clenarde imagining that she had purposely gone away with Marcelio and left her alone and distressed in the desart and solitary Isle of Formentera as you have heard before But the Lady Felicia intending to unfold these errours and make the cause thereof knowne unto Alcida desiring to end their wonderfull misfortunes and restore them to the blessed estate wherein they were before they committed themselves to cruel Nâ—ptune to saile towards the haven of Lisbone there to celebrate the concluded Marriage in the presence of the Lusitâ—n King their Soveraign she spake unto Alcida in this manner Most noble and beautifull Alcica notwithstanding that Fortune hath beene so great an enemy unto you in afflicting you with so many troubles and vexations yet cannot you deny but that by reason of the great content which you now enjoy you are fully revenged of the injury which she hath hitherto done you And for as much as the errour which you have lived in until this present day without cause abhorring your Marcelio is sufficient if you yet hold the same opinion to alter your heart and to breed his excéeding misery it is necessary that I should declare unto you how that you are terriblie deceived if you be of that opinion For the presumption which you have of Marcelio is quite contrary and otherwise then you mean for when you were left alone in the Isle that came not by his fault but by the villany of a certain traitor subborned by Fortune to aggravate your mishap who to recompence the wrong which she hath offered you hath directed your steps hither towards me in whose mouth you shall not find any other then truth Your sister Clenarde shall largely tell you all that concerneth this matter and how it wholly standeth mark well what she shall say unto you and give credit to her words for as for me I swear unto you that whatsoever she shall rehearse concerning this shall be most certain and veritable Whereupon presently Clenarde began to inform Alcida how all things had chanced excusing Marcelio and her selfe and largely declared the treason of Bartophamus and all that which already hath been said touching the same Alcida having very attentively given ear to her sisters spéech was wonderfully well contented to know the verity and truth of the case and as she did drive away and exclude her former rancor and false opinion from her heart so did she in like manner manner expel all such anger and hate which she had underservedly conceived against Marcelio Wherefore she now knowing the errour and perceiving that she wrongfully had given over the love which in times past she had born to Marcelio the sparkles of love that had so long béen raked up in the ashes of oblivion began to shew their force in her and the affection which had slept thus long began now to waken insomuch that she said unto Felicia Madam I acknowledge my fault and the singular pleasure which you have done me in bringing me into the knowledge thereof But being at this present time delivered from that false opinion and as well affectioned towards Marcelio as ever I was who for that he is now absent if I may not injoy his company I shall not obtain the perfect joy which I hoped to receive by your means nay rather shall I conceive another grief so excessive and intollerable that I shall be compelled to sue for new favours at your graces hands to remedy the same It is a manifest token of love answered the Lady Felicia to fear the absence but as for that you shall have no cause to care The Sun hath now drawen in his beams it is time for you to retire and to go to your chambers to take your rest with your father and your sister to morrow morning will we talk of the rest Therewith she went forth of the garden and so did Eugerio with
his daughters and went to the place which Felicia had appointed for them which was separated from that part where Marcelio with his company was lodged As soon as Phoebus had harnessed his Steeds to run his wonted course Eugerio Polidor Alcida Clenarde and other Gentlemen and shepheards that were in the Pallace at that time met together in the garden where sitting by a fountain before the chambers where the Lady Brisil was lodged with Ismenia Perierio Marcelio and Maffeo began one to play on the Lute another on the Citharen another on the Bandora others on their Flutes and some sung prick songs insomuch that with their musick they awaked the Lady Brisil who called Ismenia and she knocked up Perierio and the other Knights that lay in the chambers above her Who all of them leaning in their windowes although they might not sée all those that sate at the Fountain by reason of certain Lawrell trées that grew about it yet because it was so neer to their chambers they could hear what they said They therefore listned very attentively each of them Maffeo whether he might hear the voice of Eleonora for he hoped greatly that as the Lady Felicia had written unto him as well as unto Marcelio that therefore in like manner Eleonora should have béen arrived at the Palace as well as Alcida notwithstanding that the Nymph Arethee had not made any mention of her and Marcelio whether he might heare his Alcida As for Perierio he could not hope to sée the Lady whom he loved and therefore was more sad then the rest and looked out at the window more to fortget the fantasies by the pleasant Musick of those that were in the Garden and to pass the time in beholding the beauty of divers Ladies and shepheards which were there The Lady Brisil harkned whether Petulca the shepheard sung to know whether he had heard any thing of Periander But Ismenia being sorely discomforted because Arethee the Nymph had not named Lexander when she asked what Shepheards were in the Palâ—ce thought sure that he was not among them that were by the Fountain but she had better luck then she wist of for inconttnently she heard a shepheard who sitting alone after he had sounded his Corne-muse began thus to complain to himself Sonnet AVrora's looks expell the duskish night And after darkness doth the day ensue When Nymphs to field make haste for their delight And Birds do scale the ayre of sable hue But t' endure a never ending night Sith no day may my grieved heart delight For neither can Aurora's joyfull face Nor tune of Birds that sing for mans reliefe Out of my heart the night of sorrow race Or drive away the darkness of my grief Yet nothing can my soule from sighes release Nor yet my voyce from dolefull accents cease Ah mirthless Flowers sith she is lost and gone Whose beauty your Aurora doth surpass Abate your pride and wither in the Sun Whose harmful beames doe scorch the fainting grass For since that beauty which I here declare Is your Aurora but a night of care Ismenia hearing him sing out of her chamber window knew that it was Lexanders voyce whereof she was glad though sorrow to hear him so grievously complain thinking that he so bewailed the absence of some other and not for love of her self But she was soon delivered from that suspition for after he had ended his Sonnet he burst out into these words with a most pittiful sigh Ah poore soule what an high offence hast thou committed to beléeve such false accusations against thy swéet Ismenia who honoureth thée above all wights in the world whereas thou least dost deserve it at her hands And therefore doest thou worthily suffer the torment which thy lightnesse and credulity hath procured thee Ah my dear Ismenia how much better had it béen that thou hadst not taken the paines to course the world like a forlorn wight to seek after thy unworthy Lexander that he now acknowledging his fault might return home to his house and there find thee Ah traitress Sylveria and was this the best reward thou couldst afford me for the great pleasure and service I have done thee sithence thy childhood Yet I could account it a benefit that thou hast enformed me of thy horrible treason if thou hadst come in time for séeing thou hast stayed so long thy advertisement hath served to no end but to increase my grief and multiply my sorrowes When Ismenia had heard that she thought it time to thank the Gods for her fortune and to give over all care and grief Marcelio Maffeo Perierio and Duches Brisil were glad for her sake and séeing that so by little and little their company was comforted they were so encouraged that they doubted not but that they should all obtain their wished desires in time judging that the Lady Felicia was the onely Patroness that could redresse the sorrowes of all such true amourts as were afflicted by reason of their sincere love In the mean time Ismenia was so tickled with desire to enjoy the wished company of her Lexander that she had almost throwne her self out of the window and so fallen down headlong into the Garden where he was but séeing that her company hindred her from that unhappy meeting she would have presently gone to the Garden had not Marcelio and the Duches Brisil exhorted her to stay till she knew the Lady Felicia's pleasure who seeing the day appeared and the Sun began to glance through her windowes sent Arethee the Nymph unto Marcelio and the rest of his company Therefore as Ismenia was talking with Marcelio of the great desire she had to be with Lexander Arethee entring into the chamber where they were and with a most courteous countenance said unto them Noble Gentlemen and fair Shepheards I beseech God to send you so good hap and fortune as you deserve The sage Lady Felicia hath sent me hither to know of you whether you have rested better this night then the nights before and whether ye have received more content then of custome you are wont to do Besides also hath she commanded me to lead you into the Garden whither she will presently come to speak with you But you Marcelio must put on this sute which the Lady hath sent you and put off your Shepheards apparel to the end that you may be cloathed according to your estate Ismenia would not stay till Marcelio spake but her self returned this answer unto the Nymph for joy of the good news which she brought O blessed Nymph what a good morning have you given us How are we beholding unto you God will recompence the pleasure which you have done us seeing that our ability sufficeth not As for the content which we have received this night it is greater then I can declare seeing that this morning we have been so happy as that I have recovered my life and these other Gentlemen hope to obtain the same wherefore to obey so worthy
Felicia calling Alcida and the shepheard Lexander unto her went toward the place where Marcelio and Ismenia with Maffeo stayed for her coming They séeing her come as they marvelled at the supernaturall beauty of the Duches which had thus long been shadowed under a rustick habit so were they excéeding merry to see her so well accompanied to their joy and comfort for Marcelio saw his Alcida of one side of her and Ismenia saw her Lexander on the other side You may also imagine what a sudden joy Alcida conceived to see her beloved Marcelio and Lexander to see his dear Ismenia whose absence he but one hour before so pittifully lamented After that Marcelio Ismenia and Maffeo had humbly saluted Felicia and imbraced Marcelio his Alcida and Ismenia her Lexander the Lady Felicia left the Duches and Perierio there with them and calling Maffeo unto her said Most valiant Knight though the gods have not as yet gladded you with the sight of her whom you seek in such manner as the rest of your company yet let me intreat you to be of as good chear as these seeing the joy which they have had or is yet present is to come and future unto you You shall have no worse entertainment then you have had hitherto therfore if that like you I pray you stay with me till you hear more tidings of your beloved spouse and let me care for the rest Gracious Lady quoth Maffeo séeing I cannot give you acquittance for your great deserts I can do no lesse then rest your servant for ever ready to do your Ladiship pleasure at all times though with hazzard of my life As concerning my wife Eleonora I doubt not of her presence before long séeing your Ladiship willeth me to leave that câ—re unto your self And therefore what you think good I cannot but allow and what you please to have me to do I wil put in practise being ready to go or stay to depart or to remain or any thing else whatsoever it may please you to prescribe Herewith Felicia taking her leave entred into her Palace again leaving Maffeo Perierio and the Duches by Marcelio with his Alcida and Ismenia with her shepheard Lexander And although Lexander and Ismenia were but of base birth yet were they enâ—ued with such excellent conditions and qualities that they might have worthily complained of Fortune and Nature that they had not allotted them Nobility of race Yet howsoever they were of low parents they nevertheless behaved themselves so in the company of Gentlemen Gentlewomen that they were beloved of all men and none knew them but coveted to keep company with them were they of never so high estate They then being in company with these excellent and famous personages brought over the time with pleasant parley until noon at which time the bell rung to dinner The table being covered in the midst of the Garden under a pleasant bower the Lady Felicia came thither with Eugerio with his son Polydor and his daughter Clenarde the shepheard Petulca and Philorenus where after Marcelio had imbraced his father in law Eugerio who was excéeding glad to see his sonne in law Marcelio the Lady Felicia taking Princess Brisil by the hand sate downe and willed all thâ— rest of the company to place themselves at the table I will not here declare what Lordly cheer was made them nor how magnificently they were served by those beautiful Nymphs nor yet with what precious and sumptuous vessels their meat was brought to the boord but this will I only say that the beauty of the guests the countenance of the Lady President the sight of the Nymphs the swéetness of the Musick the delicateness of the fare the pleasantness of the Bower the gainness of the Garden and in a word the incomparable excellency of things there present was sufficient with the penetrating force thereof to revive the sences even of dead men and quickning their spirits to make them live againe There might you have séen the Lady welcome her guests with such pleasant countenance that they tooke more pleasure in beholding the same then in tasting their meat and the guests so courteously returned her thanks generally over the whole boord that she had rather have missed her cates then her company for she took no small delight to sée so many distressed persons by her meanes merrily drink one to the other as if they had never known of any sorrow or grief for the nature of that place is of such force and efficacy that whosoever entred into it was combred with no care Now neither did aged Eugerio remember the cruelty wherwith Fortune danted him and his children on the Sea nor Alcida think of the Isle of Formentera where she was left alone and in the Rock engraved her protestation that she would never after fancy man again nor Clenarde mention the treasons of Bartophanus against her and Marcelio Now did Maffeo not dream that his Eleonora was taken from him while he sléeped nor that his cousin Sylvestro deceived him of his heredity Now did not Perierio sigh for the sight of the Lady that wounded his heart with the stroke of love in the wood Now did not Lexander and Ismenia trouble their braine with the malicious subtilty of their mother-in-law Felisarde and the Traitresse Sylveria To be short now did not the Duches Brisil call to memory the Traytor Mafficourt the Fortune-telling in Spain nor the cunning deceit of Bergama suborned by Malorena Neither did Petulca now muse on his Love Sybil whom he so earnestly wooed she being but Sybil in counterfeit dissembling alias called Periander a man as fit to play the wooer as Petulca himselfe Neither did now Philorenus the other shepheard that was there and was named by the Nymph Arethee unto Ismenia being asked what Shepheards of account there were in the Palace of which Philorenus we shall have occasion to say more hereafter complain of his ill hap nor any of all the other Gentlemen or Shepheards that were there did bewaile or lament their misfortunes For the heavenly harmony of the Musick which divers of the Nymphs made them dinner was served some playing on the Bandora some on the Virginal some sounding their Cornets others their Corne-muses others their Harps others the Cithren others the Lute others the Gittren others blowing their Flutes others the Recorder and divers other instruments that would be too long to name so ravished their sences that they thinking themselves to be in some earthly Paradise could not but be delighted and barred even from all thought and imagination of discontent The Musick ended the three chiefest Nymphs Doride Cynthia and Polydora sung this Sonnet to recreate their Ladies guests that sate at the table Doride FLie cutting care to hollow Caves flie from this sacred place Flie griefe to uncouth Groves and let us pleasing joy imbrace No teares may torture now no sobs may grieve nor sighes may vex No wo may wound no thought may threat nor sorrow
thy play to see others pained thy pleasure consisteth in plaguing them that implore thy help Thou laughest at them that weep for their mishaps to move thee to pity thou scornest thē that honor thee thou mockest them that praise thee thou deceivest them that trust to thee thou abusest them that flatter thee and them that despise thee thou endeavourest to be revenged of them though they of all others least care for thy might least fear thy power therefore are least injured by thee Fret at them thou mayest and some stare and stamp but hurt them thou canst not for it passeth thy Deity to overthrow them that with true patience forbearance and sufferance shield and arm themselves against thy spight and rancor Therefore seeing that those that invoke thee most religiously are most unrighteously by thee injured that those that most deserve to be rewarded are most punished and that those that account most of thee and think of thee most reverently are most neglected and most villanously dealt withall by thee I that have thus long most zealously made thy altar smoak by reason of the incense which I have always from my cradle offered unto thee will and do now forsake and leave thee as knowing at last and acknowledging the errour and heresie wherewith I have thus long been infected Hereafter shall not Coreandro serve thee any more or offer thee sacrifice seeing thou hast not onely spoyled him of his goods and riches but also deprived him first of his dear and well-beloved Delbia and now at last of his dear son Philorenus whom thou hast appointed to be most barbarously killed and murthered fn his childhood and left me alive to bewail and lament his untimela death My father hearing the latter end of the Captains plaints marvelling what he might be that so railed at fortune for an other mans mishap and mischance for he having heard him repeat the injury which she had offered Coreandro he thought he had meant of himself and went into a certain thicket where he saw the man that so blamed and exclaimed against Fortune for her severe and cruel dealings with Coreandro in depriving him of his lawfull wife Delbia and his welbeloved son Philorenus but because he knew him not nor remembred that he had ever séen him before that time marvelled greatly what he should be and how he came to know him and mee for he had heard him name both him and me Wherefore after he had well looked on him and throughly beheld him he spake unto him in this order Sir I pray you not to be displeased with me for pressing so near you séeing the cause which moveth me thereunto procéedeth not from malice or intent to trouble or injure you any way but rather from love and affection desiring and wishing to comfort or pleasure you according to my power which by Fortunes frowardnesse is so impaired and weakened that my good will is more to be regarded then my ability I perceive by your face and heavy countenance that you have some cause to exclaim against Fortune either for your self or for some other But by the way I am moved by the remembrance of the good amity and great friendship which in times past hath been betwixt me and Coreandro whose mishap in losing his wife and son I heard thou so pittifully to lament to be so bold as to ask you why Coreandros case so grieveth you as that he himself could not more bewail his own misfortune or be more grieved thereat then you are The good Captain not knowing my father more then he was known by my father framed him this answer Good sir though I had had any occasion as I have had none to be displeased at your coming to me yet by reason that you have been so well acquainted with Coreandro as you say your coming unto me could not but have been so welcome unto me that all displeasure would quickly have been banished and forgotten For the great love and affection which I bear unto that man and did bear to his wife Delbia and his son Philorenus above all other creatures in the world is the cause that I so lament and bewail his miserable and pittifull mishap Wherefore séeing I have answered your question I pray you tell me where you have been so acquainted with Coreandro Where quoth my father in Spain in Aragon in Italy at Cinqueni and in every place where Coreandro himself hath been insomuch that he was no where but I was with him nor I any where but he was by me But I pray you quoth my brothers father do you know him if you see him Should I not know him quoth my father As well as my self Why then quoth the Captain my brothers father you know that I am Coreandro do you not Nay quoth my father rather do you know that I am the man Then I perceive said the other that you came to mock with me and so intreated me not to be displeased with you intending to give me cause of displeasure before you meant to depart from me Nay verily answered my father now I mark what the matter is you knew that I was to passe this way and therefore you came to this place to lament the misfortunes of Coreandro to draw and entice me to come unto you and so to be mocked and laughed at But know whatsoever thou art that if thou be so favoured of fortune that thou challengest licence to scoff at them that by fortunes spight are forced to grieve for their crosse hap thou maist so be punished by the just jugement of the revenging Gods that thou shalt be moved to cry peccavi too late and to acknowledge thy offence when it will be too late for thee to repent The good Captain hearing my father so earnest wist not what he might think of the matter but he began to remember that his wives first husband was called Coreandro and that he also had a son called Philorenus But because he thought that he had been dead long ago he could not think it should be he especially because it séemed by him how that he had lived af Cinqueni and that his son Philorenus that is my self should have been killed of the same souldiers that had slain his own son who was also called Philorenus for the same reason which hath already been told you For it seemed scarce credible to him that the other Coreandro and his son whom he thought both to have been dead long since should have lived so near him and that he should not have heard of him yet he thought best to set aside all anger that in case it were he he might shun all occasion of strife and immoderate speeches and therefore though he saw my father so hot yet he nothing changed spake thus cooly to him Sir I neither knew of your coming by this way nor ever saw you or knew you before to my knowledge and therefore the Gods punish me with their wrath if I tither
with all kinds and colours of small flowers that it séemed rather a footcloath laid there for the Gods to passe over it with their divine féet then a pavement for homely shepheards to track up and down in Now over head were divers long chains made of no other thing but flowers so cunningly twisted and woven together that the sight of them passed the gallant Ivory in shew and seemed rather to be ropes of Rubies Pearls and Diamonds and all other kind of Iems and precious Lapidaries then lines knit of flowers These chains were crosse wise laid one overthwarting the other being many of them in number and divers in making and were fastened to the upper branches of the tall Cedars that grew about the same Paradice In the middest and very centre of these lines and chains hung by thrée brave chains wrought after the same manner a most gallant garland with a fair lawrel bush hanging by one line under it so artificially knit and twisted that both the garland and the bush with the lines by which they were fastened seemed to be wrought by the fine fingers of Diana and either cast down from heaven unto them or brought thither by the nymphs of that Country who had so beautified that place for the shepheards to solemnize their feast day according to the worthinesse and excellency thereof The garland was to be taken off by him of the enamoured shepheards that could say best for his love and by him to be given unto her and the lawrel branch was to be taken down by her of the loving shepheardesses that bore away the praise of best dancing and by her to be presented unto her swéet-heart Insomuch that Aureola desirous to sée the procéedings of the country youths in their shepheard-like pastimes was a spectator amongst them though longer then the desire she had to sée me could patiently allow her yet till she saw both their dancing and their singing ended There were about a dozen or half a score of the most choice and select shepheardesses of all that country and part of Italy being daughters to the richest farmers thereabout which maids being all heavenly beauty and contending fairnesse each purchasing praise even with silence among them danced for the lawrel bush Which sight but to Aureola yea and to Aureola save when she séeketh Philorenus said she when she rehearsed the sum of her adventures could not but have béen so delightfull and pleasant that it would have made them forget themselves much more their grief or sorrow Besides she remembred that the maid that won the lawrel was called Benedetta daughter to the old shepheard Rosseo farmer to her sister the Countesse Verina and she gave it to a young shepheard named Pardo son to a rich and wealth farmer of great credit whose name Aureola knew not CHAP. XXXV The Verses of the shepheards sung by them for the Garland at their Pastoral solemnity and how Otto obtained it THis being done all the maids they as well that had béen spectators as actors in the dance sate down on the gréen al orderly ranked Benedetta as the Quéen placed in the middest of the row and beheld the action of the young shepheards who being far more in number that contended for the garland then there had maids done for the lawrel yet Aureola having her mind something too much busied with the cumbersome remembrance of me could not so carry away all their names verses but that she forgot the greater part of them But those which she remembred she imparted unto me as I am ready to do unto this worthy company seeing I have the papers yet in my pocket The first shepheard that should have sung was called Argalo being a brave young youth whose face seemed to be made by nature to tell womens eyes that they should perswade their hearts that he was fair and whose proportion was such as could not but delight If any fault was in him to Aureola's judgment it was that he sustained too stately a gate for one of his vocation being an husband-mans or farmers son for modest and low behaviour becommeth men of low birth yet she told me that his proud erecting of his head and setling of his shoulders his feet withall marching as if he had lead a troop of foot-men to muster did to her mind as harbingers deliver their messages that the inward loftinesse of his mind was far greater then in shepheards is usuall These were his verses which he not sung but with a more then pastoral grace uttered Argale A Pipe no worse then Pans sung Fieras praise loves thundering stile averred she was fair As Venus well agreed with lovely phrase And high Diana bravely did declare Fair Fioras name is written in the skie And there eternized shall never die The second youth that was ready to say something for the winning of the garland was called Porcio and though he was not fair skinned as the former yet in Aureola's eye deserved as much commendation for comelinesse as he yeelding a most gracious sight to their eys that beheld the making of his face These were his verses which he sung to a Citharen used among the shepheards of that country And it seemed by the strangenesse of the tune that not onely that which he sung but also that which he played was of his composing having made both the matter and the musick By which means he was thought to be something well skilled in playing on his instrument But O his voice said Aureola it was either like to Orpheus sweet note or it was Orpheus voice it self being through many bodies at length come within Porcio according as the Pythogoreans hold opinion of mens souls that after they issue out of their corruptible habitacles they enter newly into some other to maintain their eternity Porcio IOve rain'd his showrs were gold but yet in vain Covetuous was Danae but Bina not For though whole worlds fell down of golden rain Yet Bina chaste disdain would Danaes lot If Gods could vertue hate vice to imbrace Vice she would shun incur though their disgrace After this Porcio were some shepheards that sung to the sound of a Harp some the sound of a Viol some to the sound of their corn-muse whose vertues for that they were more passionate then passing and seemed rather to be harbingers of love then of wit being more pittifull then pithy she heard them in like manner with a mind mollified with commiseration unwilling to trouble her memory with the remembrance of thē But at length she spied a little short dapperdy busling to come among the rest with a paper in his hand wherein his verses were written in such manner that a man might have read them as fast on the backside of the paper as he on the inside But whether he had his paper to assist his weak memory or to shew his cunning that he could both write and read Aureola knew not His name was Polemon and his verses were these
small gift of the King and of me although his newes was so evil because he told us that he saw the Prince fléeting up and downe the waves upon one of the ship-hatches hoping that he was somewhere cast on land though perhaps so far that he could not so soon return home to Albion I will not hear make mention what a living death or dying life I poor wretch led all the while that Periander was absent sometimes perswading my self that he was dead and sometimes hoping to see him and injoy his presence but this I will leave to your discretion loving shepheards and passe on forwards in the declaration of this lamentable history You shall therefore know that after Barsalis had been six moneths at home the Admirals son returned to his fathers house attired like a ship slave and told us such a tale of his wonderfull adventure how he was cast on the shore side with his mast-piece and how he fared on the land that not the Court onely but all the Country also admired at his hard fortune But concerning the Prince he could tell no more then the other traitor had done yet to give a colour of likelihood he agreed to the same report which the Villain Barsalis had made And though my hope was small yet I took the greater courage because sir Massicour◠that Arch-traitor had escaped such dangers and troubles as he made us beleeve And howsoever my young heart strived against sorrow and grief yet the Queen being old and weak of nature consumed for very grief and dyed Who being buried and intombed what mourning what grief and what sorrow was made not in the Court onely but generally over all the Countrey I am not able to expresse And as for my selfe though I was very sorry for her death yet was the grief and pain which I suffered for the absence of Periander so great and excéeding that I could scarce think up-any other thing and therefore the sooner forgate the death of the Quéen CHAP. XV. How the traitor Massicourt slew himself because he could not obtain the love of fair Brisilla also how the King was enamoured on her BY this time began the traitor Massicourt to make love unto me and to cast such passionate looks upon me at all times that he passed by me or came into the place where I was that I could not chuse but perceive that he was becom darling to Venus by the forcing dart of her Son Cupid and that he suffered great pain for my sake I was sorry for his case because he was a most gallant Gentleman excéeding both in perfection of body and readines of wit but yet my hart was so fixed on Periander that although I had certainly known that he was dead yet could I not have forgotten him to love any other Yet howsoever I was affected Massicourt found meanes to enter into the Orchard I being there alone and emboldned himself so far that he came unto me gréeted me and with all humility by word of mouth declared what torment he suffered for love of me desiring me to be merciful unto him Whereunto I answered that I could shew him mercy in pittying his case and exhorting him to change his mind but other mercy I could not shew him and so I flung into the Palace and left him among the trées which might have been witnesses of the teares he shead Yet he gave not over the field for all he had had but ill successe at the first assault and purposed to send me a Letter hoping that ink and paper would do more then his bare words had done Especially because he being passionate was not able in my presence to expresse his mind neither would I hearken unto his speech Insomuch that he thinking that I could not do lesse then read all whatsoever he wrote though I could not give ear to his sayings dispatched a Letter and conveyed it into my hands as secretly as he could which letter was written to such an end Massicourt to the Dutchess Brisil PArdon me gracious Lady if I am troublesome unto your grace for I am forced by that Lord whom I must obey The sum of my desire is to please your grace and my chiefest felicity consisteth in your content therefore think not Lady that I would willingly molest you My humble Petition is that it may please your grace to weigh the torment grief and pain which I suffer which if your gracious mercy do not slacken is like to seal my love with death and to give the world cause to accuse your grace of cruelty Mercy Madam is an ornament to Ladies of high estate I wish not that you should forget the Prince Periander but to admit me as copartner and pertaker of your grief Neither do I crave that your grace should not love Periander whether he be dead or yet live but give me leave to love you and to accept of my love as a comfort to asswage the sorrow you suffer for Periander Farewell When I had read this Letter I could not but be angry for it grieved me that he went about to withdraw me from the love of Periander though he séemed to wish the contrary For how could I have loved him and not forget Periander how could I have been merry with him and mourn for Periander and how could I laugh with him and wéep for Periander wherefore incontinently I wrote him this answer Brisilla to Sir Massicourt YOur conscience urged you Sir Massicourt to crave pardon in the beginning of your letter foreknowing your offence But your excuse is for that you are constrained by him whom you must obey Cupid you mean I am sute but how shamefull it is that a Knight should so bewray his pusilanimity and faintnesse of courage I leave to your own consideration And to let you understand furthermore that if your desire be to please me and therefore far from undertaking any thing that may trouble me you shall obtein your wish and enjoy true felicity which you affirm to consist in my content if you molest me with neither letter nor speech to love you For in so doing you shall bind me to acknowledge that you have done me a singular pleasure You know that I have already told you that I am sorry for your torment and passion though I may not be your Physitian Neither do I think the world so mad as to judge me cruell if your folly cause you to die Though it be a common and usual custom unto all your sex to talk of the mate befor you have the check You can teach me that mercy beseemeth maids but you forget in the mean time that Knights ought not to be unmerciful as to seek the overthrow of our honesty and to spoil us of our honour Have not I given faith to love Periander and shal I not incur foul shame and dishonor if contrary to my promise I love you but would you have me use your love as a pastime to forget the dolor