Daphnis and Chloe EXCELLENTLY describing the weight of affection, the simplicity of love, the purport of honest meaning, the resolution of men, and disposition of Fate, finished in a Pastoral, and interlaced with the praises of a most peerless Princess, wonderful in Majesty, and rare in perfection, celebrated within the same Pastoral, and therefore termed by the name of The shepherds Holiday. By ANGEL DAY●….  
Altior fortuna virtus.  
AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue, & are to be sold at his shop in Paul's churchyard at the sign of the Crane. 1587.▪   

TO THE RIGHTLY ennobled in all virtues, Sir William HATTON knight, advancement in virtue, worship in life, and fame in perpetuity.  
TO enforce Sir unto your worthiness herein, by many circustaunces how much led on with the BOUNTY, VALOUR, COURTESY, SKILL, and many other compliments of VIRTVE, resiant in your well noted and known disposition, I have dared to adventure unto your favourable acceptance, this simple and plain dedication (simple I mean in respect of the handling) might seem in the delivery, to equal an other volume.  
Omitting therefore all those particularities to them that know you, and to mine own private meditation, that especially do honour you, I will only say for this, that the greatest forwardness craveth a shroud, and the meanest matter cannot be without defence.  
TO VIRGIL there was an AUGUSTUS, to HORACE a MAECENAS, to CICERO a CAESAR, to APPELLES an ALEXANDER. If to these? how much more than to me needeth there, to cover the deformity of my style, a most exquisite PATRON.  
In a matter simple, it is yet a grace, but to insinuate the name of such as do merit well, the very respect of whom, in the generality of the most, beareth always we see, a more than common reputation,  
Herein if I presume on your VIRTVES, I urge the necessity, if to crave your patronage, than custom may free me.  
Now, if the course of the weekdays pastimes of these SHEPHERDS seem happily to mislike you, turn then I pray to their HOLIDAY, where (how rudely so ever handled) yet the Majesty of her, who is without comparison, being there in most especially honoured, shunneth not the favour of any sweet conceit to have the same recommended.  
Fruitless were it on a short request, to erect large matter. For which my suit shallbe, that with the self BOUNTY, wherewith your present years are so largely beautified, your VIRTVE will vouchsafe favourably to repute both of me and my travel, which having obtained the shroud thereof as Ajax shield, shall become unto me henceforth of a sufficient guard from all kind of biting serpents whatsoever.  
Your worships in all to be commanded. Angel Day.   


THE FIRST BOOK of the loves Pastoral, of Daphnis and Chloe.  
MITELENE among all the notable cities of Greece, is for the delicacy and strength of the same, not the least in beauty and greatness of all others to be commended. The situation of which (being in the Isle of Metelene) hath environed round about it, a continual springe of fresh, sweet and dainty water, the issue whereof floweth from the Seas, and over the same are builded many beautiful and fine bridges, wrought and curiously polished of fair white stone. The show and bravery of all which, giveth so large and goodly demonstration unto the eyes, as he that beheld the same at a sudden, would rather judge it, an Island of itself, than the mere situation of one sole City.  
Not far from thence (as is accustomed unto the most rich and popular cities of Greece) one of the worthiest and noble personages of the same, had in the country by, about two or three miles from the town, a goodly Manor house, pleasant for the seat, and wholesome for the dwelling, whereunto were adjoining divers fair and wealthy possessions, enlarged for commodity, and exceeding for pleasure. as namely, large high and goodly mountains, where were nourished and bred sundry sorts of wild beasts, grounds all covered with vines, plains, stored with all manner of fruits and grains, and with most fertile pastures, whereon to feed and nourish their cattle, the chiefest whereof lay for the most part, alongst the water's side, which for that cause, rendered the place, something the more delectable Within these grounds, Lamon a poor goatheard, whilst warily he often continued to keep his charge, found by chance a young child, the life of which was only preserved by the suck it received from one of his shee-goates, and now see the manner how. There was about the place where he fed his flock, a certain thicket all overgrown with brambles and thorns, and compassed about with furzes, under the covert whereof grew a soft fine and delicate kind of grass, the turf thick, as in such shady places is often accustomed, whereon laid this tender infant. Thither ordinarily ran one of his shee-goates, the custom whereof made the herdsman oftentimes to miss her, and knew not where she was become, for that leaving her young kids uncherished, she only against nature gave heed to the feeding and nourishment of this pretty babe.  
Lamon piteing the silly young ones, that thus were abandoned by their Dam, began to mark and watch the goat whether she went, and one time amongst the rest in the heat of the day, sued her trace so near, that he saw how she passed under the thicket and that with so tender & wary touch, as y● with her hoofs going in, she might no ways hurt the babe: and there being entered in most loving sort, inclined her teats unto the infant, who hungerly sucked the same, no otherwise, then if it had been the breasts of a natural mother. At the sight of this, the herdsman wonderfully abashed, drew yet at the last more near, & searching further, found it was a male child, well grown for his age, of beauty marvelous, and far more richly attired, than beseemed any ways the infelicity of his fortune, abandoned so miserably as he was, and laid forth, to every common adventure. The vesture wherein he was wrapped was a rich mantle of purple velvet, the compass fastened about his neck with a brooch of gold, and by his side was laid a short fine sword of most excellent workmanship all curiously guilt, on the hilts and the handle thereof, of the most precious ivory.  
Lamon (greedy at the first of the rich jewels he saw) resolved only to bear them away, and to leave the child as he found it, to some other fortune, but having considered a while of that purpose, a bashful shame quickly surprised his thoughts, that being a man, ●…ee should be less pitiful and humane than the poor beast itself, that he thereto had with so great regard attended and nourished it. In so much, that when night came on, he took both child and other attire about it, and carried them home unto his wife, whose name was Myrtale, and therewithal the she-goat that thither to had cherished and brought it up.  
Myrtale, astonnished at the view, demanded if it were possible that goats in their self kind, could produce young ones of so marvelous shape and proportion, but Lamon suppressing in her the simplicity of that conceit, revealed both the manner how he found the babe, and in what sort, and with how great delicacy, he saw the beast inclining unto it, and therewithal forgot not to prescribe unto her and him a greater cause of humanity, considering that a bestial nature, devoid of reasonable living, had by the gentle condition thereof, taught them so ready a way unto the same. Myrtale, (whose humours savoured in nothing of a crab tree stock) did not at all discommend her husbands regard herein, but joining in one mood of mannerly entertainment togethers, as housewifely as she could, (having never had any of her own) she lulled the baby, and locking up the ornaments and jewels in a fast barred chest, they both thenceforth endeavoured to foster it up, in no other sort, nor by any other kind of deliverance then as their own. And to the intent it might as well in name as otherwise, resemble the place of education, where it was bred, they called it by the name of Daphnis.  
Two years were not fully passed and expired, ere one Dryas a shepherd keeping his sheep in great quantity upon the plains and downs thereabouts, happened after this also upon the like, or very self same adventure. There was indifferent almost between either of those places, a certain great cave, standing in a rock, sacred sometimes to the Nymphs, and therefore called by the name of the nymphs Cave, something crooked within, but altogether round without. In the inward part whereof were divers statues of Goddesses & other Nymphs, wrought finely out of stone, the feet unshod, the arms all naked, & th'attire buckled on the shoulders, their hairs cast only upon their necks, without tressing at all, girded they were upon their loins, their looks sweetly smiling, and their countenances such, as seemed with interchangeable favour in delicate sort to greet each other.  
Right under the hollow rising of this cave, sprang in the midst of the bottom a sweet fountain, which raising itself, with a soft bubbling, gathered into a pleasant springe, wherewith the fresh and fruitful griefs round about the same, were continually watered. Over the mouth of the cave, where the overflowing waves with Crystal humour, had wrought from the earth, sundry kinds of flowers and herbs of delicate view, hung divers flutes, Pipes, and Flagiolots, made of reeds, which the ancient shepherds had often tofore-time sacred unto the Nymphs for their greatest offerings.  
To this cave, a sheep from out of Dryas flock, that newly had yeaned her lamb, oftentimes in the day frequented, and that with such continuance, as the shepherd thinking it many times to be lost, endeavoured at the last, to make some device whereby to constrain it to feed in company, without wandering any more as it was accustomed. And going to the Cave to seek the sheep, with an Osier twig wreathed in his hand, wherewith to fasten the neck and foot thereof togethers, a sight more strange than looked for, presented itself unto him. For the Ewe (framed as it seemed by nature, to the pitying of distressed creatures) having there found a sweet babe, did in most soft and gentle manner, visit it many times with her teats, and that with so meek and tender handling as if it had been the proper Nurse. The child unused to any difference, esteemed it as a natural diet, and without crying or other distemperature at all, first on the one side, and after on the other, as the Ewe turned herself, with the pretty mouth (which was sweet and pleasant to behold) sucked the same. The Sheep seeming thereunto to have borne a most strange and peculiar affection, which one while with the licking of her tongue on the visage, and another while with soft and dainty coying it with her head, it exceedingly did manifest.  
Dryas, though he were clubbish in condition, yet not herein estranged from that piety, which the gentle beast had thus already portrayed unto him thought himself also in nature bound to tender the infant, and perceiving it was a girl; and there withal what ornaments (testimonies that the place whence it came was of no mean reputation) were also annexed unto it, having on the head a coif curiously wrought and embroidered with gold, jewels and other precious things, not to be despised: he adjudged the chance thereof not to have happened unto him, without some divine preparation: Wherefore taking it up in his arms, he gladly received the charge thereof, and making his prayers to the Nymphs, that with good success he might afterward bring her up, whom as an humble Suppliant, left (as it seemed) to their patronage) he had found laid at their feet, he departed.  
Now when night came, that he was to drive his sheep home to their fold, having secretly in the mean time conveyed all the jewels and ornaments into his bouget, assoon as he was returned to his house, he began to recount unto his wife all that he had seen, and showed her also what he had found: Nape was the Sheperdesse called, to whose especial care her husband with many words recommended the regard of the distressed infant, commanding her thence forward to repute it as her own natural daughter, & in such sort only to nourish and provide for it. The woman was not stony hearted, but according to her shepherds guise began to embrace and entertain the girl, deeming already that she became a mother unto it, by mere affection, her conceit grew tender over it, and with such fervent love, and continual watching did she endeavour to foster it, as that she feared lest the sheep that whilom sucked the swatheled unpe, should in the beastly regard it showed be preferred before her. And for that her care stretched that the girl in farther springing years might the sooner be taken and reputed for hers, she gave it thence-fro a name Pastoral, and called her Chloe.  
These two children in process of time grew to be great, and showed well by their beauty and other compliments, that their parentage was not mean, nor their descent derived from out of old thatched cottages. And about the time that the elder of them, was come to the age of fifteen years, and the younger about two years less: Lamon and Dryas at one very instant, and in the self-same night interchangeably (as it fell out) dreamt in this sort togethers. It seemed unto them both, that the Nymphs, whose statues and images were in the cave (where you heard before the fountain was, and where Dryas (as is reported) had found his daughter) took Daphnis & Chloe, and them both jointly delivered to the guidance and protection of a very young boy, gentle in all kind of behaviours, but of beauty most wonderful, frustrate was his body of garments, his shape curious, his skin pure as alabaster, his shoulders feathered as wings, his left hand supported with a slender bow, a small quiver at his back, and a fine arrow in his right hand. Who touching them both with one and the fame dart, gave charge unto Daphnis thenceforward to feed his goats on the pastures, and to the other immediately to keep flocks of sheep.  
The herdsmen both at once deeply conceiving of this vision, were suddenly quailed of all their former expectation, insomuch as the fruits of their careful nurseries, seemed thus contrary to that they hoped, and what their several badges, might before that, respectively have presaged, to be destined at one instant to the keeping of cattle togethers. For that the marks of their birth, had offered unto their former notice, so manifest intendments of far greater fortune, in full pursuit whereof, their careful endeavours had thitherto sought to conduct them, and that in far more delicate and dainty manner, than beseemed the children of herdsmen, as well in an honoured kind of usage to their persons, as in liberal training them up in letters, and other convenient skill and demeanours, whereof their years at that instant were nothing ignorant, and that so far forth as the largesse of their country dwelling, could any ways afford unto them. Nevertheless, forsomuch as the injunction appeared to be derived altogether from the pleasure of the gods, they determined in their obedience, rather to give place unto their commands, whose providence had saved them both from their former perils, than to yield unto their own proper fancies, whose greatest respect of care they were sure could least of all avail them.  
Not long after, these two neighbor-dwellers found means to confer at full, touching both their visions, and by one wine consent, they first agreed to go unto the cave of the nymphs, and there to offer sacrifices, for the better prosperity and happy proceed of their several charges, which offering of theirs, they by one vow togethers, devoted to the fair young boy, unto whose protection, by the same Nymphs, their nurseries had been before committed, whom they called by the name of the winged god, for otherwise by any more special title or particular effect they had not discerned him. Which done, they jointly inferring, whatsoever after care of the two youthful and sweetest of all nature's creatures, upon him, both Lamon and Dryas recorded as a sum of all their expectation, these four verses to remain on the wall of the nymphs, as a perpetual memorial:  

To thee thou winged God, what ere thou be  
(A god thou art) we shepherds fruits do bring  
Let Daphnis and his herds be dear to thee,  
And chloe's flocks eft cast this sacred spring.   
Having herewith greatly satisfied their longing desires, and manifold well-wishinges unto their tender fosterlings, Lamon returned to his Myrtale, and Dryas to Nape, and by assent of both their wives, dispatched the next day with all kind of necessaries, the two darlings of the earth to their several herds, sweet Daphnis to his goats, and fair Chloe to her sheep, instructing them severally, in all things belonging to a heardsmans' office. As how to drive their beasts to pasturing before the heat of the day, and in the cool of the evening again ho●…e to guide them: what times, & where to water them, when to bring them home at night, and how in the mornings likewise to drive them to the field. In what sort, and upon what occasion to use the Whistlepipe, and how at another time to call with their voice alone.  
These Images of Beauty, mildly yielding themselves to what herein to them enjoined, received as willingly their charges, and with as deep contenting pleasure, as though they therewith had received some great and notable signory, Daphnis tendering his goats, and Chloe her sheep, and that with so entire and more than common affection accustomably used among sheapeheards, as well showed, that he for his part had some reason to induce him, and she for her part could not omit it without seeming unthankful.  
The season was then of the year, about the beginning of the spring, when the very delicacy of Flora's self was grown to her most natural prime, and she as Lady and queen of that jolly being, had by a mere earthly show of most exquisite performance, coloured her walks and passages, with blossoms of sweetest verdure and die most perfect, for the more ample beautifying and enrichment of all her seemly creatures. Herbs than began to be in their force, trees in their pride, fields in their bravery, flowers in their sweetness, and the earth in her delicacy. The birds had felicity to resound their variable notes to the woods, & to acquaint the hedge rows with their warbling tunes, the lambs and tender kids skipped upon the hillocks, the young rams hurtled on the banks with their wreathed horns, & had pleasure to perch to the highest mountains, the bees sweetly murmured from under their hives, and all that frequented the passures had universal gladness.  
The mark of Love himself, combined within the very eyelids of these two excellent creatures, seeing all things thus daintily decked and trimmed up, by so curious workmanship, kindled in their minds the self-same spark and common desire of all natural enforcements, whereby each of them became studious, according to their humane nature and disposition to imitate by lik●… equality, what they then perceived to be gras●…ed in all other tenderlings. In so much as with the birds they sang, seeing the kids leap, they danced, and after the bees they gathered flowers, with some part whereof they trimmed their bosoms, and of others made pret●…e small chapelets, the bravest of which they carried unto the Nymphs, and therewith crowned their heads. Finally as it were united in one continued link of 〈◊〉, these seemly portraitures of well pleasing youth, lovingly always accompanied each other, and evermore on the 〈◊〉 fed their herds together.  
Many times befell it, that when her sheep were any ways strayed, Daphnis with great desire would speed himself before her to gather them in again: And when the most hardy of his young kids, and ●…ender goa●…s had mounted to the top of some high or steep rock, neatly would likewise Chloe apply herself to make them draw down the same with eas●…e pace again. O●…e while guided she both herds herself, whilst he used his pastime, and another while ordered he the flocks, whilst she sported herself under the shady tops. Their exercises were in Sheapehearde games, and the pleasures they entertained, such as beseemed the nonage of their outgrowing childhood, for some part of their time, they spent in gathering bulrushes, wherewith Chloe would make pretty bird▪ cages and therein put the grasshoppers. Daphnis on the other side often times cut down the reeds, and unclosing their ●…oints, glued them orderly together again with soft wax, and of these found divers pastimes wherewith to occupy themselves togethers. Their usages were holy, as unexperienced of evil, and such whose delicate imaginations, were never surprised with the least taint at all of harmful thinking. Interchangeably did they ●…ch to other impart their milk, their wine, and what other victuals, the simplicity of their show, and country being could beside afford. To conclude, it might seem a thing more ordinary, to see their flocks asunder scattered, than at any time to see Chloe from him, or Daphnis from her to be divided. Now as they thus passed their time in such kind of dalliance Love, the grand Prince and Sovereign of their unmacheable beauties, had by this time prepared a secret ambush wherewith to frame some notable breach, into the undefensive imaginations of these two innocent lovers, and thus stood the case. There was not far from the place where these two gentle Shepherds kept their haunts a she-wolfe that newly having cast her whelps, accustomed thereupon to run oftentimes into the flocks thereabouts, and there to raum the small cattle, to carry to her young ones: By occasion whereof the husbandmen and shepherds inhabiting the villages about, and seeing their cattle thus to be destroyed, devised in the night to make sundry deep pits and trenches and them subtilye to cover again with thin earth cast upon small twigs whereby to make the place seem plain, so that whatsoever came running thereupon, were it of the smallest weight that might be reasonably conceived, the twigs would presently fall under them, and whelm them therewith into the pit. A number of such like traps both in the mountains and plains, were cast, wherewith to catch the subtle beast: but she accustomed to those wiles, shunned the train and them continually discovered, notwithstanding many sheep and goats were thereby destroyed, and Daphnis himself by that only inconvenience was like to have perished.  
It happened that two of the fairest bucks of all his herd being vehemently chafed one against the other upon a long fight together, rushed at the last so rudely upon each other, that with the greatness of the stroke, a horn of one of them was broken, whereof feeling great pain, the buck thus disarmed of one of his horns turne●… himself to flight. The victor (proud of the conquest won) pursued notwithstanding, and haunted the poor beast both with strokes and pace so busily, that he hardly gave it so much leisure as to gather a little breath. Daphnis grieved at the mishap, to see so fair a beast thus unhappily spoiled, and vexed also in mind to behold the unquenchable fury and ho●…e pursuit of the other, which with the hurt done could not be satisfied, but with further cruelty, sought to oppress him whom already he had maimed, took up a cudgel in the one hand, and his whistle pipe in the other, and followed the pursuer, laying still at him as he followed, in mind to beat him, The beast, shunning the strokes, and he more enraged to hit him, then circumspect how or where he followed him, the buck for fear, and he for haste, tumbled both together into one of those pics, the beast first, and Daphnis upon him, the chance whereof (as it fell out) saved his life, for that the beast first sustained the hard stroke, & himself with less damage, fell the more easily upon him. But Daphnis seeing himself thus pitifully distressed in so deep a passage, could do no other but cry out, and with plenty of tears lament his hard hap, attending if happily some one or other coming that way, might chance to hear him, and so proture mean to relieve him.  
Chloe, whose eye was seldom estranged from some (more than ordinary) care of her regarded companion, albeit she was then a great way from Daphnis when he fell, perceived yet his sudden vanishment, & was not unmistrustfull at all, of his present harm. And for that she was altogether ignorant what it might be, and yet doubting the evil she knew not, because she saw him not again, she hastened to the place where her sight had lost him, withal speed possible. There beholding the great depth of the pit, & seeing contrary to expectation, that he was sound & alive, she thence sped her pace quickly to a Coweherd that fed cattle hard by, requiring his present aid to help Daphnis forth of that grievous place, who searching up and down for a cord, and finding none of length sufficient: Chloe with great desire untressed quickly her golden wirie locks, and with the silken twine that bond up the same, eftsoons doubled togethers in many compasses, supplied what wanted to the former shortness, by fastening it to the cords end that by the Cowherds means, they had there already prepared. And this done, joining both their aids together, they did so much Daphnis without great hurt, was gotten forth again.  
The lovely shepherd thus razed up from so deep a dungeon, & by the gentle travail of the Nymph freed of the great fear wherinto he was fallen, casting many times his bashful & deep pecring countenances towards her, could not for the present devise with what kind of speeches (sufficient to so great a benefit) to salute her. And much the rather was he now so mazed, for that at that instant more than at any time before, it seemed there harboured in her delicate spirits, a more stronger effcacie, than ever he had ere than perceived, in her looks, were carried an especial eye mark of he knew not, what kind of most sweet and pleasing delight, some onething more than common, rested as he thought in the precious content, of her well applied countenance, her speech was not as the ordinary sound of her accussomed deliverance, her gestures (amiable of themselves) were fraught as now to his seeming, with a more estranged kind of excellence. Neither knew he, whence the humour hereof proceeded, albeit he felt himself even then deeply touched, but embracing with an unacquainted desire, the conceit whereinto he was carried by the present object, he only framed some few speeches, in acknowledgement of this first conceived benefit, which by the watchful regard of Chloe he had already received. And turning himself likewise to Dorcon- (for so was the cowherd called) giving a multitude of thanks unto him for his travel taken, his looks and speech at one instant, were therewith both surprised togethers.  
This being the first public place wherein love, either by look or gesture had made way into the secret though is of these two jovers to be discerned. Daphnis as yet ignorant of his passion, and holding himself highly pleased, but nothing less than satisfied in beholding of Chloe, reposed his chiefest content to gaze upon her, and the most precious part of his delight in kissing her, wherein, redoubling e●…t 'zounds the pleasures, thereby conceived a sweeter humour than that which the honey Be by nature congealeth, or the Candy sugar in taste delivereth, issued (as he thought) from her lips, her looks were as piercing arrows, and Cupid himself seemed to lodge in the very kickshaws of her countenance. Roast, nay far more orient was the hue, that her hasty pace and yet panting breathing to relieve him had settled upon her cheeks, the delay mingled, whereupon was the very die of the white and purest marble. Her locks dispersed on her shoulders, in colour like the burnished yellow of the finest gold, made her to appear as one of the nymphs, whom jupiter erst favoured, or Apollo with a●…den flames whilom eagerly pursued. Pleasing, and more than pleasing was she to be seen at that instant, and such as wherein not Daphnis alone, but the poor cowherd Dorcon also more than ordinarily rejoiced.  
The simple cowherd, unacquainted before time, with such admirable features, and not accustomed to the contemplation of so divine & far surpassing measures, esteemed one while of Chloe, that according to so rare and exceeding beauty, some what remained graffed in her countenance that appeared more singular than was to be attributed to the common proportion of every other creature. Another while, considering the meanness of her fortune, being but in common reckoning the daughter of Dryas herself, but as a simple sheepeheardesse, m●…red only to the downs, he then deemed her greatness to be no more than as the reputation of every other common dweller. And though his rural condition had not till then made estimate of any thing, more than his country feeding, neither in all his pleasures had aught exempted more peculiar than his cattle keeping: yet by the deep impression of her sight the grand master of all human affections, had led him to an imagination of far more greater consequent, yea the blun●…nesse of his former conceit (such as seldom falleth out in men of base and servile reckoning) began herewith to be molifted, his spirits grossly weighed before with an earthly nutriment waxed now more tender. His only household care furnished till then with a covetous regard of profit and husband-like desire, by hardened labours, to see his cattle prosper, was turned into a new kind of observance: his morning walks where with he wonted erst to visit his pastures, were converted into a heed full attendance of blissful Chloe, and her most dainty passages. Now 'gan he to advert the holidays, and to long for the pleasant seasons, wherein herdsmen without check or controlment do celebrate their interchangeable pastimes▪ him seemed the bois●…rous leather, and laboursome sweat, dried with the dusty season upon his wrinkled kickshaws, disgraced at one instant both his person and countenance, he merely warred weary of his habit, and grew into great mislike, that he were not presently here, otherwise he might be decked or changed. Much was it that he thought in himself, where with he might afterward be better contented, and her whom he loved) by a like conjecture) to be both the sooner pleased and satisfied.  
Thus and in such manner wrought the unknowing conceits of these two heardsemen each unto the other. Daphnis by reason of too much youth and small experience, neither capable of fraud, nor injured to any sleight or subtlety, and least of all surmising what he could or would go about to do, to win unto himself the effect of that whereunto, though in truth he were so far forth inclined, he was yet able of the same to frame no perfect end or distinguishment, not so much as mistrusted at all these sudden alterations bred in the mind of his new acquaintance Dorcon, for that neither knew he his own desire to be defined by any title or name of love, or that any other might be a copart●…er, or become an impatient rival of his so vehement a passion. But wading with all kind of simplicity into the fury of his affection, inclined to whatsoever in accompanying his dearly regarded Chloe, was by the subtlety of the cow heard afterward of him required.  
hereupon Dorcon having taken leave for the present, conceived thenceforward in his mind, that the place of his entertainment, solicited unto his remembrance, a respect more curious in all his actions, than to-fore time accustomed, and forgot not in his holiday shirt, and clean washed doublet unbuttoned to the girdle, and there fastened to the waste of his hose with a new green silken point, importing thereby, that all his you 〈◊〉 was not yet fully spent, oftentimes to take occasion to visit these lovers. And for that their purest conceits, harmless of evil, and never so much as tainted with any similitude of guile, gave both scope and courage, whereby without suspicion, this new tricked cowherd might be received into their companies. He the better now to insinuate himself into their favours, one while endeavoured to present them with his new made fresh cheeses, covered with a fair white napkin, and strewed over with the most sweet and delicate flowers, therewithal would he bring of his best and morning skimmed cream, spice-cakes, and other pretty conceits. To Daphnis beside gave he a young fat calf from the dam, and many other fair tokens to Chloe, such as either his country travel had purchased, or wherewith her sweet conceited spirits were any ways delighted.  
This sudden alteration of Dorcon, both in habit and other demeanours thereunto according, not so much by any ability of conjecture, that thereby could solely arise in the opinion of Daphnis, as by the general notice and common speech of all the other herdsmen, made every where known, that he was become a lover, and who but fa●…re Chloe was she, to whom the man was so fa●…re devoted in affection, insomuch as Daphnis also among the rest grew now to be partaker thereof, the manner of which, neither place, time, or company, had taught him before to discern. Yet knew he not for this, what was it to be mated with a companion of so vnus●…d ●…ollitie, neither did he for aught he heard or saw, emulate at all the cowheardes proffered courtesy. This only marked he, which all men else had specially noted, that since Dorcon first had framed his spirits to love, he became indeed far more gay, pleasant, and trimmer attired, his tresses as wonted, lay not scattered or hard knurled upon his head, but fair kembed and rounded fine under his ears, neatly shaven was he, as the bravest of the other shepherds, and not on the holiday alone, but every morning fasting pinned he (laced in a silk ribbon) on his but toned cap, a fair and flourishing nosegay, well gartered and str●…ked up were his ho●…en with a cross bound caddis ribon, his buckled shoes, seemed unwieldy and curiosity of the rest, made him at the least to bestow on himself a pair of calves leather pumps for his wearing.  
These only being specially considered upon of Daphnis, and there withal how passing cunning he had framed the notes of his old tuned pipe, whereupon he divers times played sundry country lays, in the hearing of Chloe, drove him at one time above the rest into a little melancholy, not for that he stood ignorant how much the Nymph was unto him above all others inclined, or that he mistrusted Dorcon, or envied his pursuit, but for the vehemency of his passion being so fervent, as had already mastered and overwearied his imaginations, neither experience of manly knowledge, had yet so far instructed him, as that he was able to determine the same upon any certain limits, nor any other insight directed him, in what sort the operation thereof might with more facility be carried, both of which (as he thought) Dorcon by this liking of his body & bravery wherein he marched, had already achieved: insomuch as seeing one day the sweetest of his delights to have taken upon her the feeding of both their herds, he privily secluded himself for a while into the thickest of a prea●…ie pleasant grove adjoining, and reposing his youthful limbs on the soft and tender grass, near unto one of the nymph-like springs whereof the wood every where was most abundant, the solemn tunes of a most sweet sounding flute (wherein both private practise and the common usage of the country, had made him excellent) gave music to his mar●…yred thoughts, whereupon his mollified spirits so pressed with the weights that which troubled him, enforced him in the bark of a fine Poplar tree standing thereby to grave these few verses following.  

What may I call the sweet whence springs my sweetest joy,  
Or wherein rests that on such sweet depends so great annoy.  
How haps that where I touch the air hath sweetest breath  
And in the self-same fume I find my cause of death  
Whence sues that where I live where most delight I see  
In self-same mood my life consumes, & ●…oies confounded be  
Whereon engendered is the heat that breeds the flame  
Sith tempered is with sweetest blasts the cause that moves the same  
What physic may I find what art to cure the sore,  
Which guided by the aid it seeks the wound makes still the more   
This done, led on by the solitariness of the place, music, and present fau●…ie, he broke into these farther complaints. Sweet, ah sweet said he, what strange kind of malady hath ensued unto me, only in kissing my Chloe, my sweetest Chloe, whose lips are more delicate than the softest roses, and her mouth and dainty breathing of far more sweetness, than the finest wafers, yet is the impression of this softness far more piercing than the sting of a Bee. Often have I kissed my tender kiodes, newly as it were fallen from the dames, & that fine speckled calf that Dorcon did give me, yet felt I no damage, but this kiss is of far other efficacy and operation, by touch whereof, my pulse beateth, my heart trembleth, and my very soul languisheth, all which notwithstanding, my suffizaunce of remedy resteth yet only in kissing her. O cruel victory, O strange mischief whereof I neither know the name or am able to determine the quality. Is it possible, the lips whereof the pressure is so delicate, and the closure so excellent, may be attainted with poison, or that within the medicinable compass of so sweet a refreshing may be included a matter so monstrous as may breed infection. No, no, for then with the far piercing venom thereof, had my death long ere this time been acquired. What then may I term it whereof ensueth so great a languishment? See, see, the Nightingale how melodiously she chaunteth, and my Flute hath forgotten her wont music. Behold how the young kids skip upon every hillock, and I sit here laden with tears. The flowers are now in their chiefest prime, and Dorcon alone maketh chapelets and nosegays: the Violet and the Dasey have covered the pastures with their beauties, and Daphnis languishing by his malady withereth only in flames. Dorcon is in his gaietie, and shortly will become fairer than I These, and such like shepherds iamentations delivered he forth, till wearied with the remembrance and search of that grief, whereto he knew neither remedy nor end, he left the desolate grove, and with a counterfeit excuse returned again to his Chloe, who long ere this time had awaited his presence.  
Now Dorcon, whose riper years had enabled his clownish sconce, both with larger skill, and greater experience, triumphing on the harmless simplicity of either of these two lovers, listed not to spend much time in the long and needless wooing (as he thought) of her, whom though of herself he were repulsed, yet by imparting some part of that whereof he had sufficient, to the covetousness of him that guided her) he presumed he might when he list purchase at all times of her supposed father, fixing therefore his eyes on his store of cattle and other coin, wherewith his labouring years were plentifully enough stored, he only wanted but time and meet occasion, to further his pretended conference, for which he thenceforth attentively waited, Making therefore a sure reckoning of Dryas, whom ancient neighbourhood, and long acquaintance had linked unto him in some particular knowledge, it fell out, that by a pretty occasion, his intendment grew speedily to be effected. Dryas had a piece of ground adjoining not far from the dwelling of the cow-heerd, whereupon, whilst he was there busied, in planting an arbour, Dorcon made the often sutuiew thereof a means of his communication: and greeting him every day, and his people with sundry necessaries wherewith to ease their far set provision, as well of cheeses, bread, and other victuals, he one day among the rest began to enter in purpose & renovation of their ancient continuance their years both being alike, their keeping of cattle togethers, and such like remembrances, wherewith men of common account are wont to commend their acquaintance. In continual harping whereupon, he lastly fell on terms of Chloe, and to discourse of her marriage.  
Much was it that the cow-herd, after his subtle clownish guise, enforced unto Dryas, whereby the better to make himself seem a man adapted to such a pursuit, & the rather to encourage Dryas to make him his son in law, besides the much reputation of his wealth evermore thrust forward, to give unto him also the greater and more evident demonstration, that he should not marry his daughter to a beggar or a pinch fist, he tendered unto him for his good will, many fair and husband-like presents, rich for the state of a cowherd as he was, whereof he prayed him to make acceptance, & to give his good will to the marriage. A yoke of fair large oxen would he give for the plough, 4 hives of bees, fifty foot square of the best part of his orchard, an ox hide large & thick for leather, & every year besides a fair & principal hecfar. That Dryas was covetous Dorcon had good experience, and therefore intruded upon him so many fair offers: the delicacy and wealth whereof tickled indeed something exceedingly the mind of the man, and had it not been, that a certain doubtful fear overtook him, of some unlooked for afterclappes, he had peradventure, by desire of that commodity consented to the determined purpose.  
But considering afterwards better of the case, and esteeming by the likelihoods of those ornaments which with Chloe he had had received, that her descent was not so mean, as to respect a place of so base a calling, nor a shape so far more than seemly, resting in her excellent proportion, aught to be bestowed upon a creature so far out favour, and altogether servile: he utterly abstained any further to hearken to the suit of Dorcon, reckoning fully with himself, that if ever after it did happen, that she were recognised by her parents, & that then it should be known, that for covetousness of gain, he had in so bad and vile manner misprized her, it could not but turn to his great detriment & irrecuperable undoing, if at the least wise he might upon the knowledge thereof be enfranchised from death: Led therefore as he was, by the regard of these doubts, he thereupon prayed Dorcon for very neighborhoodes sake, to pardon him, and excusing in other sort the matter, willed him from thenceforth that he would sue no further unto him.  
This conceited forecast of Dryas, was nothing at all pleasing to Dorcon, who seeing himself now the second time, with so flat resolution put off, could almost (what between love and grief of so many good gifts, that he had in vain bestowed) have become desperate. It vexed the poor soul to the heart, to see, that his mornings-milk cheeses, his fat calves, and bacon, were thus unto the chuff Dryas imparted, and all for nothing: he could have whined outright for sorrow, and his humours rumbled together with so bad a medley, as made his senses wring forth divers tender passions from out his wrinkled countenance. But yet recomforted quickly (as to such it often happeneth) of these uncouth pangs, the subtle clown began by a new devised fraud now to compass that which before he found so difficult, watching for this cause a convenient time to find Chloe (if it were possible alone) & to this end, bethought himself, that upon custom each after others they used to drive their flocks at one certain time of the day togethers to drink, the one of them daily, as it fell out after the other. Hereof Dorcon took heed, and only expected the day when she alone should drive them, which being come, the seely cowherd thinking to work a great mastery in the simplicity of these souls, took upon him a deceit of marvelous fineness (resspecting, that it was wrought out of so hammer-head●…ed a trunk) and the devise was this. He took the skin of a great wolf which one of his bulls fight by chance had killed with his horns, and spread the same all over his back, and that so ●…ly as the forefeet thereof, fell justly before him right ever his hands, and the hinder legs also covered his thighs down unto his heels, the head, as a vizard, lay all over his face, and thus disguised as he was, by likelihood in the full shape and proportion of a wolf, he drew himself right unto the fountain, whither should come the flocks of Daphnis and Chloe to be watered. The spring was situate in a valley very intricate and crooked, and all the place round about for the most part environed with brambles, sharp pricking furzes, and low declining ginipers, in sort, that if a wolf in very deed he had been, he might easily have couched himself thereabout to have done a spoil, Dorcon bussed himself in the thickest of these coverts, waiting the hour when Chloe should come, assuring himself, that by the fearful show of his shape, he could not choose but amaze her, and in such amaze might easily seize upon her, and do what he list unto her.  
Not long had the woolfe-like cowherd couched himself, but the shepherdess (as wont) came with her dainty flocks, having left her Daphnis behind, busied in cutting down of the most tender twigs and boughs, for his goats to browse upon, against they were returned to pasture, the dogs nevertheless, as accustomed guards unto her younglings, at that instant accompanying her. And as it is a thing unto them natural, to hunt up and down, & range round about the field, so at the last it befell, that drawing near unto the bush where this disguised cowherd lay couching, they perceived him bussing, and deeming it some beast, began to bay apace: the fiercest of them hereupon began to snap at the wolf, and the rest, hardened with this onset, set also upon him. Dorcon was now in an ecstasy, and not daring to stand upright, for fear and shame of the disguise by him without effect pretended, the dogs unwitting of the fraud, took no more knowledge of him than whilom did the hounds of Actaeon upon their master, disguised as he was in the shape of a Hart, but harrying fast upon the cowherd, one in one place, and an other in an other place, so rudely rushed upon him, as tearing the wolves skin from his shoulders, they made him discover himself at the last to be no more than the poor and simple cowherd Dorcon.  
By this time the mask grew utterly to be marred, & the sharp piercing teeth of those merciless dogs, pinched so near his buttocks, as Dorcon was feign to start. Chloe fearful of the event, & dreading the fury of some wild beast, skreched a main, whereof Daphnis having regard, sped himself in all haste to her rescue. But Dorcon contrary to expectation, having sustained more penance than he required, and pestered with the continual biting of the dogs, could no other ways relieve himself then in discovering what he was, wherewith incite against his will, he cried vehemently to Daphnis. The simple youth suspecting as little fraud, as his innocent years ministered unto him occasion of evil, wondering at the accident, and thinking that it had been done only but as a jest, wherewith to have frayed them, approached the Coweherde, and both he and the Shephardesse rating the dogs, and drawing them thence with their common whistlepipe took poor Dorcon with much pain from out of the covert, whom scarce being able to stand for the many hurts in divers parts about him received, having nothing wherewith to fiend himself, they led between their arms to the fountain, and washed his wounds, which done, they brought him by the hand unto his way, and recomforting his decayed spirits by all means possible left him at the last to the peculiar in sight, & consideration of his own evils, unknowing alas were these to hardy guiles and enterprises of Love, unto those tender Imps, nor did they at all participate any part of the fraud to the same incident or belonging, whose chary regard of well-doing, became the only support of their mere simplicity and good meaning.  
Dorcon, now solitarily conceiving of this so strange an alteration, had all his imaginations thenceforth utterly benumbed, for ever thereafter to continue a lover. And in this hurly-burly, the unaccustomed baying also of the dogs, had so far scattered abroad the flocks and herds, as both Daphnis himself and Chloe had much pain, till night to draw them together again, the one part whereof being climbed to the highest rocks and mountain tops that might be, and the other fearfully straggled in divers parts down towards the sea coasts. And albeit, their joint herds were otherwise so well ordered and taught by their guides, as that with the least clap of hands, whistle, or other sound of voice that might be, they would draw to their companies, yet now were they so far frighted with this uncouth noise, as that with all the travel to them used, they could scarce be wholly brought together again to accompany. But night, that bringeth in conclusion every labour to end, had at the last conducted also these herds into their several fo●●es. And werisomnes of the painful travel sustained, served them as a medicine to bring into the thoughts of these passionate derlings the accustomed rest, from whence a good while since they had been bereaved. Sleep made them to forget their loves, and the fervency of their passion swayed thereby a great deal less in the disturbance of those their mutual affects. But the bright shining day, which is the discoverer & common renewer of every crazed fantasy, put her and him in mind again, of their wont misease. The ruddy rays brandishing the Eastern skies, revealed a new the fresh & quick spreading flames of their late received passions, the interview of each breeding on the first sight, a novel grief, issuing interchauncheablie from him to her, and her to him, not for that they saw each other, in either of whom the contemplation was a mithridate to a pestered conceited mind, but that the deep piercing in sight thereby sustened conceived in each view so wonderful and strange an effect, as in conclusion converted the former physic it received, to a most increasing and almost irrecuperable malady,  
Infinite were their desires (for to covet, is to mankind natural) but what it was they desired, or wherein consisted the determinate conclusion of the same, that by their simplicity, could no ways be defined. If they coveted to see each other they saw, if to play togethers, they played, if to speak, they spoke, if mutually to embrace, they embraced, and hereof there was unto them at all no kind of controlment, At their liberty they enjoyed what they listed, and having all that they would, they could not yet, conceive therein the principal part, of that they most desired. Contentment reposed itself upon their deepest disquiet, and from their greatest miscontentment sprang up again their chiefest ease. Now was it in the decreasing time of the spring, and freshest Summer perking in her gayest pride, made way to her entrance, the flourishing growth of every living thing, warred proud of their being. Now bloss●…nted were the fruits on trees, and Ceres in her tillage, and Pomona in her orchards, breathed in the freshest air their sweetest savours, Titan having wound himself in the Crab, drew fast to the Lion's cabin, whereby the season growing hoot, it seemed the Rivers and gravely springs, placed in most cool and temperate shades, invited each youthful gallant, to their sweet pleasing baynes: Whereunto Zephyrus gently bustling thorough the twigs of the lofty Pines his comfortable blasts, appeared by the pleasant murmur thereof to make a kind of Music, by means of which trilled sometimes down before them the sweet smelling appels from the highest branches.  
Phoebus' sporting himself to glance through the thickest grooves upon their naked shapes, made Daphnis (inflamed both by an inward love and heat of the present season) to visice the springs, where casting himself into a delicate River, one while would he chase the Swans aloft, and an other while cast himself to the bottom, catching therewithal at the smooth gliding fishes. Often would he gulp into his entrails a great quantity of the cool water, and then swim again washing & turning himself in the stream desirous to see if therewithal the hot parching heat he sustemed, might any ways be cooled: but all in vain, for that the force thereof, by afar more vehement fury, was inwardly supported.  
Chloe having by this time drawn forth her sheep and goats to be milked, remained so much the jenger thereabouts, for that the sharp singing flies buzzing round about her unstained visage had in the drawing down of the son something busily vexed her, whereupon having washed her face in one of the nearest fountains, she gathered of all sorts of flowers, and them wreathed, in the branches and tenderest twigs of the Pine-trees, whereof she made a chapelet, and therewith crowned her amber coloured tresses, and having girded herself in the skin of a mighty heart, buckled fast on her even pressed shoulders, she filled one pot of wine and another of milk, and therewith came to entertain her dearly favoured Daphnis. Who fastening his earnest looks on her admirable beauties made way to issue from the river, and she stroking again his delicate limbs with fresh prepared clothes, finding nothing therein to be reprehended, (so rightly proportioned was he in all fewtures) with many sweet embrating clothed she him apace in his shepherds garments. In all this demeanour were not the conceits of Daphnis, in beholding her graces altogether unoccupied, who seeing her compassed in such nymphlike attire, supposed one while that she was as the fair Leda, who for her exceeding shape, deserved solely to become the mother of the most beautiful Helena, an otherwhile him seemed that she was some Io, only meece to be reserved to none other but for the mighty jupiter, sometimes he likened her to one of the Nymphs in the Cave. whose looks as he thought, carried of her behaviour a most notable resemblance, and holding her pot in her hands of wine and milk towards him, he was wholly confused by Love the force whereof distilling amain within him, had wrought to his most secret entrails. Smilingly therefore taking the Chapelet from her head, and with great devotion kissing it, he put it on his own, and taking in hand an harp, whereon his softened strokes were varied with most excellent cunning, he tuned the same forthwith, and song thereunto in her praises this ditty following.  

Sweet sweetened be the hours, the days, the months and times,  
Wherein with sweet conceits my soul, thy sweetened favour climbs  
Sweet be thy looks, thy touch, thy speech, thy gate and all  
Ten thousand sweets betid thee still, whose sweetness stains them all.  
Ye flowers whose motley hues do prank in Nature's pride.  
Do shroud yourselves, and for my sweet, your beauties lay aside.  
Ye temprate western winds, whose air yields sweetened breath  
Deny your sweet to be as hers, whose sweet yields life or death  
Ye dainty tuned fowls whose notes do deck the spring  
Confess in hearing of her sounds, your sweets small pleasure bring  
Ye crystal sacred springs, ye vales and mountains hie,  
Whose pleasant walks her passage decks, and spreading favours die  
Agree with me in this, my sweet (surpassing far)  
Excels the sweetness of you all, and doth your pleasure's bar.   
His song concluded in the delicacy of this so great a commen●…acion, Chloe took no small pleasure, in seeing herself thus highly to be magnified in the liking of him, whom above all other she most entirely favoured, wherefore inclining her looks to his sweet distilling favours, one while conceived she great pleasure in parting of his locks, brown in colour as the Myrtle berries, resembling therein the comely shape of Adonis, julled sometimes in the lap of Venus, and denoting in particular terms the some of all his perfections, with many sugared speeches she began to admire him, which kindling in Daphnis an earnest zeal in contemplation of all her favours, made him in farther demonstration of the great felicity he thereby conceived, to add unto his former praises also, these succeeding verses.  

Those hears the golden wires of my well tuned sound,  
Become the pleasure of my pangs, and make my joys abound.  
These seemly eyes the glass, whereof my fewture stays,  
And forehead large, the field on which, depends my blissful rays.  
This mouth the dainty spring that yields me cause of life,  
These teeth the pearls of precious price, that cure mine inward grief.  
These lips the coral fresh, that comforts heart and mind,  
These looks the guarders of my love, by whom I favour find.  
Those cheeks the apples fresh, whereon Vermilion taint,  
Be mixed with the silver white, my sugared pleasure paint.  
These pits in dented cheeks, are chairs for Beauty placed,  
Wherein, triumphant favour sits, impugning woes to waste.  
This neck of yu'ry white, confounder of my cares,  
These hands the aids to further that, which love for me prepares.  
These feet the wished steps, whereout my joys arise  
From these and out of these ensue, what else I may devise.  
Thus decked in my joys, on her I gaze my fill  
Whose shape hath power to comfort all, but never force to spill   
Herewith Daphnis having taken his flute sounded thereupon divers excellent ditties. And for so much as it grew towards the midst of the day, the melodiousnesse of the sound together with the heat of the season, brought Chloe a sleep, their flocks by this time being couched all together under the shady tops which Daphnis perceiving, stayed quickly his music and withdrawing his flute, gave himself thereupon to gaze at full upon her most exquisite perfections. And seeing that there was none about him to countermand his demeanours, he began secretly thus to deliver in himself. Oh how sweetly these eye lids of my fair and blissful Chloe are couched together, how delicate is the sent and savour of her breath, the sweetness whereof neither these albpine buds, nor flowers themselves, do in any sort imitate, yet dare I not for this, to kiss at all, these sweet savours for that the very touch is more peercing than the swords point, and the force thereof cutteth the very heart on sunder, and as the receipt of the new made honey, so swelleth in those that touch it the harmful poison thereof: Neither would I yet enforce that injury to my Chloe, as by to rude pressing her lips, to yield disturbance to her quiet. Alas these grasshoppers I fear me with their piping tunes, will wake my deerling. Ye cruel beasts, why hurt ye so rudely with your horns, unpatient as it seemeth to give unto my darling any rest. O ye wolves, at this instant more cravinlike than the foxes themselves, why rush ye not into these herds to scatter them on sunder? Whilst Daphnis continued in these and such like complaints, a seely grasshopper eagerly pursued by a swallow, cast herself by chance, for her safeguard into the bosom of Chloe, by means whereof, the Swallow neither was able to catch her, nor longer could use unto her the force of her wing, notwithstanding, the bird came so near that with fluttering up and down about her face, she awakened Chloe out of her sleep, the fear whereof, made the Nymph, (for that she knew not what it was) to skritche aloud, but when she saw the Swallow yet fluttering top and fro about her, and Daphnis laughing by her at the harmless fear and sport thereof, she deemed the less of the matter, and rubbing her eyes, yet greedy of sleep, she made herself ready to arise.  
The grasshopper was yet between her breasts, and as on e delivered as it seemed from danger, and in the kind it bore, willing to show itself thankful, began to chant where she sat, remunerating thereby the good turn at her hands received, by reason of which, Chloe not yet experienced of the accident, cried outright, and Daphnis again laughed a pace at the sport, and loathing to grieve her overmuch, conveyed thereupon his hand between her breasts, and took out the grasshopper, which yet thankful of her safeguard continued chanting between his hands, whereupon the fair Shepherds knowing what it was, took it again & returned it forthwith into her bosom. Shortly hereupon it befell that a certain Ringdove sitting in a grove hard by, began to sing, in whose song Chloe taking great delight, demanded of Daphnis the reason thereof, whereupon the gentle Goatheard desirous of her utmost satisfaction, began to recompe unto her, this story following.  
There was (my dear) said he, in times passed, a young damosel fair of shape, and in the prime of her age, beautiful as yourself, who keeping her cattle upon these pastures, had right excellent skill, both to sing and play delicately. Her beasts had pleasure in her tunes, and so delightful was the sound of her voice and pipe, that she governed them at pleasure, and was able to draw them whether she would.  
This beautiful Nymph sitting under a stately Pine, having her head crowned with the leaves thereof, one day happened to sing a song in the honour of Pan, wherewith her beasts began so earnestly to be inclined, as that they drew them close to her sounds. near unto her was there likewise keeping of cattle a certain young youth, fresh and froolicke as herself, who right well handled his pipe, and could thereon play many dainty ditties. One day amongst the rest, with intent to show that his coming was not bad, he took his pipe in hand, and thereon in disdain of the Nymph, placed so sweetly and melodiously, as that with the overpleasing sound thereof, he drew from her eight of her fairest beasts, pursuing the sweetness of his Pipe, do what she could, and made them to join to his company, wherewith the poor wench vexed for grief & intolerable despite, to see her flocks so much to be diminished, and chief also, that she was thus overcome in her own cunning, took so great a grief of the same, as that she prayed the gods, and they vouchsafed to change her into a foul, rather than any more with such infamy to return to her dwelling. This performed, and she, as you see, being made a bird of the mountain, in accustomed sort, followeth up and down, plaining her ill hap and loss of her beasts, whom she seeketh, being thus as she was unluckily overcome, and singing as she was wont to do, retaineth yet some part of her ancient tunes and sorrowful complainings.  
In these, and such like devices, spent they the disports of the pleasant Summer, till Autumn drawing on, the vintage began to approach, for that the grapes grew fully to be ripened, in which time certain rovers of tire, having a Foist rigged and manned lately from Carry, happened to come ala●…d upon the Island, and roaming up and down here and there upon the country, they peeled and spoiled all places where they came, and armed as they were, ran into every corner to take what they could get, whereby, as chance happened, they took great store of wines, grain, and honey, the novelty whereof was such, as it was yet in the wax, and therewithal rob and spoiled the seely Dorcon of all his beasts and cattle, leaving the man sore wounded, and well-nigh dead with their blows. And cou●…sing as they were up and down in the Island, Daphnis by ill hap walking on the sea-bank, was by them surprised, for yet was not Chloe gone forth with her sheep, being early days, and fearing (for she was alone) to be enforced, by some other of the rudest sort of the shepherds. The rovers seeing this young youth, fair, seemly and strong, and thinking him of better regard than any part else of their prize, they made no further pursuit after his goats, but contenting themselves with his person, and that they had beside, they returned again to their Foist: Daphnis crying out upon Chloe, the remembrance of whom in this extremity did only consume him.  
These thieves being scarce got aboard, and not yet making way with their oars into the stream, Chloe by this time was come unto the pastures with her sheep, and failing of Daphnis in the place of their accustomed meetings, seeing therewithal his goats and tender kids all scattered and disordered, here and there, she began to fear the worst. At last, hearing his voice, yet crying and complaining after her (for yet was he within sound) she left her sheep, and throwing down her▪ Pipe, has●…ned with all speed possible to Dorcon, in mind to require his aid, whom between life and death she found groveling upon the ground, half slain of the thieves, and scarce able for faintness to deliver his mind unto her, having lost of his blood an exceeding quantity. The cowherd yet perceiving Chloe to be there, the remembrance of his ancient love, kindled in his mind some n●…uell forces, whereby enforcing himself a little, he thus said unto her: My dear Chloe, thou comest even now unto me at the rendering of my ghost, for long I know I cannot live, so many ways have these cruel rovers wounded me, and beat me down as an ox in the s●…all: nevertheless, if thou wilt, it is yet in thy power to save Daphnis, and to be revenged on the wicked creatures for my death. I have (Chloe) hitherto accustomed my beasts to the sound of my pipe, and that in so certain and assured manner, as in the hearing thereof, be they never so far from me, they will yet by all means possible draw homewards again: take here my Flute quickly, and hasting to the sea-coast, sound unto the beasts my tune, that often before this thou hast heard me teach unto Daphnis, and wherein thyself I know, art reasonably well instructed by him, at the hearing whereof, my beasts I dare assure thee will shift to come back, and Daphnis thereby may be saved. My Flute I freely give unto thee for thy travel, whereon heretofore I have gained the prize among all the herdsmen, only for recompense I require at thy hands but once to kiss me, whilst yet I am now dying, and that my soul shall forthwith departed the body, and when I am gone, bewail my death, and yet think upon Dorcon at the least wise when hereafter thou shalt behold any others a keeping of their cattle, who once above all others so entirely loved thee.  
Having delivered unto her these speeches, the kiss he received of Chloe, and his life ended at one instant together. Whereupon she took his pipe, and forthwith set it to her mouth, on which the blasts she blewe were so shrill, that the beasts having knowledge thereof, and the tune thereby delivered, they altogether with one amaze, bussed out of the Foist, and jointly with one poise rushed into the sea, which being but on the one side alone of the ship, the force and weight of the multitude was so great, that therewith they quite overturned the vessels, and whelmed men and all therein into the sea●…, but not with one and the self-same hope of safety: for that the thieves being clogged with their harness, sword, and other defensive weapons, were not able by the weight thereof long to help themselves, but Daphnis being light as the Summer season required, unshod and naked in the upper parts, easily came to land, supported by the horns of two of these oxen jointly, between whom, having cast himself, he was easily carried to land, for these kind of beasts by common opinion having longer force of swimming than any other creatures whatsoever, except only the fishes and water-foules, the proofs whereof have been made by divers. In this force, as you have heard, escaped the poor Daphnis in dangerous adventures at one instant togethers, the one in becoming a perpetual bondslave to the thieves, the other after escape of that hazard, in being delivered from drowning.  
In being come forth of the sea, he found Chloe upon the shore between her former distilled tears, and present rejoicing of his safe arrival, entertaining him at one instant togethers▪ whereupon, casting himself between her arms, he desired to understand of her the cause of her playing at that instant on the Flute. Chloe, upon such demand recounted unto him the whole progression of speech between her and Dorcon, the use of his beasts to that sound, the robbery, spoil, and wounds by him received, finally, his death, and before his dying, how he committed to her usage the custody of his pipe, only of modesty abstained she to tell of her kissing him, as a matter over and beside the chance of that his present delivery. But Daphnis recreated of his heavy labours, forgot not for to honour the memory thereof in the person of Dorcon for a perpetual remembrance, and therefore together with his parents and friends celebrated accordingly his unhappy funerals, as by the death of whom grew the occasion of his unlooked for escape out of so manifest perils. His body therefore being closed in the ground, Daphnis with other shepherds round about his grave, planted sundry trees, and each one hun●… upon the boughs some part of his cunning masteries, they cast also thereupon hallowed grapes, and milk, and for that he was cunning upon the Flute, they fixed over his grave sundry sorts of pipes. His beasts being come ashore, piteously belowed, and cried after him, which some heardsemen interpreted to be a sorrowful lamentation, for the want of their guide and master.  
When Dorcon was thus interred, Chloe took here Daphnis, and led him to the cave of the Nymphs, where she cleansed and washed his body, neat, and pure of itself, as the whitest alabaster, afterwards gathering together sundry sorts of flowers, as the pleasant season of the year then freshly served, they made chapele●…s for the images, and over the mouth of the cave amongst the other instruments, tendered unto the Nymphs the Flute of Dorcon, as an offering, which being finished, they returned both again to their flocks, whom they found all sorrowfully couched togethers on the tender grass, abstaining (as it seemed) from their food, for the loss of those who were w●…ont to govern them, whom they deemed to be utterly perished. But having again the sight of their beloved guides, they fell afresh to their pastures, the sound of whose voices and melodious piping, made them for to taste the better their accustomed feeding.  
The goats couched before in the lowest bushes, began now to peek to the hills, the kids skipped for joy, the sheep and tender lambs amazed no more, but universally rejoiced at their presence. Sitting therefore down on the hillocks, whilst Chloe wearied with earnest labour, & moiled with travel for the search of her Daphnis, gave herself to the fountain, wherein to bathe and wash her ●…ender limbs: the parts discovered unto the young goatheard, caring in themselves the pureness of her complexion, renewed afresh in his imaginations the thoughts of his love. Now began he again to pant & breath, as if newly he were to be enforced for a pray to the thieves, now languished he in like sort by his secret imaginations, and so much also inwardly swelled, as it had been one that had drunk poison, his pulses furiously bet by a disordered heat, as if yet his spirits had been chased, he lived & longed, and looking was never satisfied of that, which always he most desired. The crystal waters contained only in one slender spring, in which the Nymph washed herself, became unto his sight, more fearful than the very deepest seas. Him seemed thereupon, his life as yet stood in hazard, at the hands of the most merciless rovers. And thus continuing in these variable fits, lived poor D●…phnis sequestered from the due accomp●… and benefit of all his passed pleasures, like unto such a one as himself, who being always nourished in the fields, knew not how to make decernement of Love or any part of his subtleties. But she whose gracious looks were replenished with all kind of favour towards him, perceiving the melancholy Muse whereunto he was driven, now fresh as the crystal dews had made her, and much like unto one of these daughters of the Springs, or Neptune's darling, the fair Venus herself issuing out of one of her father's rivers, in such manner approached she his presence, wherefore for that she was the sovereign guide and director of all his thoughts, she quickly could find the delay wherewith his continual coursing fancies were presently to be mitigated. Whereupon joining herself side to side unto him, each greeting the other with many loving embracements they interchangeable framed their tunes one to the other, concluding that days travail with this sonnet following,  Daphnis. 

Ye brightest gleams within those piercing eyes  
Whose glimpse retains a show of power divine  
Enclose yourselves, for fear from lofty skies  
Some envious star do at your glory pine.   Chloe 

Ye mighty powers, to whom these sacred groves  
Right pleasing been. And Nymphs that haunt this shade,  
Envy you not with wreak the hardy proves  
That Nature's self in Daphnis shape hath made   Daphnis 

Alas if Phoebus should the heat forthink  
That once for love in burning breast he bore  
And mazed at thy feature, give to shrink  
From her to thee, than woe be●…ide my share.   Chloe 

Alas if Venus stealing to her springs  
In mind her sweet Adonis to embrace  
Thy curled locks should view whose beauty stings  
And thee for him admire, than woe my case.   Daphnis 

Excelling jewels, bear the choicest price  
Things less in show, envy always the best:  
Less Phoebe shines, when Titan gins to rise  
Where mighty force effects, there shrouds the least.   Chloe 

Unmatched pearls, have value still for show  
When best exceeds, who can deny the place  
Though things be rated high, yet this we know  
It (needs) excels, whose weight hath highest grace,   Daphnis 
Be honoured then, thou Nymph of all the flocks  Chloe 
Be fairest thou of all that guide their b●…ard  Daphnis 
Let still thy name resound on highest rocks  Chloe 
And Chloe ne'er be of thy change afeard.   

The second book of the loves pastoral of Daphnis and Chloe.  
BY this time had the harvest season ripened and carried in all the corn, and the vintage began a pace to be brought in hand, Bacchus feasted in his glory sat environed with the vines and the Bacchanals of the youthful god were now to be cellebrated. The people of Mitelene each where prepared their vessels fit and meet for this season, some beginning to have in a readiness their presses, others to wash their tons, some to make pots and panniers wherein to convey the grapes, others to sharp their hooks, shears and knives wherewith to cut down the stalks, this man prepared pestles to bruise the grapes, they again scaled hemp to be beaten wherewith to make cresset-light to continue burning for them, when the wine waxed ready for tunning. Daphnis and Chloe were not idle in these companies, who putting themselves also forwards to the common labour, were of all sorts of the people generally each where liked and commended. He for his part, carried the grapes in the panyers, and trod them in the troughs, afterwards also tunned the new wines, and gave himself with travel unto every exercise. She likewise tricking herself neatly, made sundry things ready for the workmen, dressed their meats, and prepared for them wines of the old year passed, and mingled with milk, and when she had so done, then would she return again to the vines, and from the branches that she might easily attain unto, cut down the grapes, for the vines of Uignenoble in Mitelene, do all for the most part grow ●…lowe, or at the leastwise never to h●…e, or spreading to much on the trees, whereon the bonches pendaunt also are commonly so weighty and great, and spreading themselves therewith into such length and breadth, as that a child of four or five years old, may almost reach unto them.  
And as the custom is in these Bacchanales, when the grapes are in this sort gathered in, they call from all places of their villages, their neighbours, as well men as women togethers to help in the vintage. According whereunto they being there assembled a wonder was it to see the womanish demeanours of the most part of those gossips, what censures each of them gave of the young shepherd Daphnis. They seemed each of them to be enamoured on all his particularities, some of them having in choicest reckoning his talk and seemly stature, some his youthful countenances, not yet fully grown unto manly tipenes, others his abourne locks curled naturally in the foreparts & sides, and artificially ●…emed and tressed behind, on his shoulders, this again had in estimat his fair & goodly forehead, eyes, & other seemly propor●…ioned fewturs not to be despised, she looked on his legs strait and hie calved, that commended his amiable favours, being such as wherewith the Nymphs themselves might not disdain to be acquinted. With those, his activity was greatly praised, and by them again his skill in Music principally extolled.  
One amongst the rest unpatient, as appeared of her fervent affection, running upon a sudden to the bashful Shepherd, kissed ere he was aware his delicate lips, wherewith as one that had been pricked or stung with a wasp, the blushing youth angry in his mind at the wrong to him tendered in his chloe's presence, rubbed and roused his lips, as if thereby he had sus●…eined some notable blemish.  
Now as the women fed thus their gazing eyes upon Daphnis, so likewise the men on the other side upon the surpassing demeanours of Chloe grew greatly to be amazed. Her gestures to them appeared of so notable excellency, as with the like whereof their gross conceits had seldom before been enured. The unaccustomed gazing of whom had cast in her seemelievisage, a vermilion more perfect, than rested in the fresh springing rose, wherewith the very colour of the fine and fresh garden lily being conferred, a mixture so exquisite and dainty thereout arose, as that it seemed the purest and lively counterfeit of a sweet favoured beauty, that might be, had taken harbour in her countenance. They danced oftentimes, and skipped about her, as whilom did the satires in their madding pastimes, full oftentimes wished they themselves to have become as the sheep and tender lambs, the rather to be resiant in the company of so seemly a sheepeheardesse, and often to be dallied with and touched in her delicate hands. The inducements whereof, grew unto the seclie Chloe, so tedious, as before the several usages of the others had been unto Daphnis. Often wished they jointly, that these vintages were once passed, and that their liberty (sequestered from those unused societies) might return to them again in haunting the valle is, as they were to-fore time accustomed, and that in stead of these fawning praises, they might once hear again their melodious Flutes in the fields amongst their flocks freshly to be sounded.  
After a few days now passed, and the vintage something spent, their wishes there with began also to take effect, by mean●… whereof Chloe in wonted guise led early in the morning her sheep to the pastures: Daphnis also settled amongst his herds, as one that had a long time been estranged from his delights, began with pleasure to haunt the downs, and sometimes with his goats to climb the steepest rocks. It was a world of liking unto him, to join his pipe and tunes to her notes, sometimes also played she sweetly upon his Flute, whereunto, one while with his voice, an other while with his music would Daphnis answer again artificially. Then doing their wonted observances to the Nymphs, they visited their caves, groves, and pleasant fountains, and on their statues hung they many bunches of their fairest grapes: Chloe renewed again their heads and tresses, with fresh herbs and flowers, and dallying afterwards togethers, as being returned to the place and resiaunce of all their happiness, they entered into their wonted shepherds pastimes.  
Now as they were thus playing, and spending the time togethers, there happened into their company on a sudden, an ancient herdsman, his head and beard snowish white for age, but yet not altogether spent in years, who being clothed in the fashion of the oldest shepherds, saluted these darlings, and presented them with sundry fruits which he had brought thither in his budget. And resting himself upon the soft turf hard by their sides, began to enter with them into divers discourses. The young shepherd and his Nymph had pleasure to hear him, and with great attention gave heed to all the speeches, that by his auncitient experience were delivered, which he perceiving, the good old man continued with great good will, & having ended the same, and they both wondering still what he was, he entered at the last with them into these terms following.  
I am, my son (said he) the aged Philetas, which heretofore have honoured these Nymphs, and haunts, with divers and sundry ditties, and yet record I my Flute at this day, nothing worn from the ancient melody, in the honour of the mighty Pan. Many stately herds heretofore have I guided, and only by the sound of my Pipe, to all things constrained, and to this end came I now unto you, to tell you what I have seen, and what on your behalf, hath by the mighty sovereign of Love been delivered unto me. There is no hill nor grove hereabouts that hath been unknown unto me, no valley that I have not haunted, nor spring or fountain, but I have tasted, full oft in my youth have I reposed these decayed limbs upon the sweetest grass, and with pleasure have I song upon these hillocks our shepherds merry lays and pastimes.  
And now understand ye, that I have hereby a very fair nursery, which by mine own handy exercise I have sowed, planted, laboured, and trimmed, with all kind of delicacies, even sit hence the very time that (constrained by creeping age) I have abstained any more to feed and watch my beasts, upon these goodly plains. Within my nursery, there is nothing, that for the season of the year may be desired, but I have it there sea●…ed. For the spring time, I have roses, violets, flouredelis, herbs, and other devices of sundry sorts: for the summer, pears, apples, cherries, plums, berries, and fruits of all kind of pleasure. Now for this sea●…on of autumn have I also, grapes, figs, nuts, oranges, pomegranates, myrtles, and twenty other like pleasures. To this nursery by reason of the situation and delicacy, have customably always resorted divers sorts of birds, of the bravest kinds, flocking in troops, both to feed and solace themselves, chanting on the branches and hedgerows thereabout, their harmonious sounds, wherein the couer●… being very spacious and wide, by reason of the great number of trees, every where growing giveth unto them the more scope and pleasure a great deal, whereby at will they might recreate themselves all togethers.  
In three sundry places of this plot, ariseth three principal fountains, issuing from the most sweetest and wholesome springs▪ watering with their overflowing tops, all over the gardens. The ground being so wide, and the tr●…es so thick, make the place seem a far off as if it were a wood. Whilst warily I have day by day attended my fruits, and with great pleasure harkened after the sound of these gentle birds, behold, for a great space together each day about noon, I have perceived tripping in the shade, under my myrtle trees, & pomegranates, a fair young boy, holding in each hand pomegranates and mirts. His shape white as the colour of milk, an other time red as the glowing fire, his skin pure, neat, and clean, as if even now he were come forth of some pleasant river, naked is he always in show, and ever alone, and without company: him seemeth to have great felicity, in gathering my flowers, my fruits, and my berries, and that doth he so freely and so careless of check or controlment, as if the plot were his own, and not belonging at all to anyeother but himself, which having often perceived, I endeavoured many times to run unto him, fearing least in his tripping and skipping up and down, he might happen to break my myrtle twigs or pomegranate branches, but not for this could I ever so much as once reach near unto him, so nimble is he in his flight, and therewithal so swift, and being so escaped, then cooleth he himself covertly, shrouding under the rosters, and sometimes under the broad spreading poppies, no otherwise than if it were some pretty flying partridge.  
Many times have I coursed after the young sucking kids, and often followed after my tender calves, but this than those, seemeth a far more contrary pastance, for do what I could, I might never attain unto him, no, when sometimes he hath almost seemed to be under my hands. Wherefore, seeing that no pursuit availed, and considering, that by reason of mine age I became weary, and fainted, I lea●…ed once on my s●…affe, watching always his doings, that still I might keep him in sight, and the tripping lad, drawing something near me, I began to reason with him after my manner, and demanded thereupon, what neighbourhood he had unto us, and upon what occasion he took upon him in such manner to enter my nursery and garden, and without leave or other demand, in sort as he did to gather my flowers and fruits, whereunto he answered me nothing, but approaching something more near unto me, he sweetly began for to smile, and daintily seemed for to sport at me, casting with his delicate hands, the myrtle berries on my face and breast. What operation the same might by nature have received I know not, but with the soft touching blows, I felt my senses and mind immediately towards him to be mollified, neither could I afterwards for my life, so much as seem angry.  
Being thus calmed of all mine eager pursuit against him, I converted thereupon my colour to entreaty, gently praying that upon assurance, and without any fear or doubt at all he would come unto me, swearing by my Mirts and all my pleasant fruits and nurseries, that with as much good will as might be, I would let him go again, and beside of my myrtle berries, and fairest pomegranates would give unto him also the best choice and plenty, and suffer him at all times after when he listed, to gather both flowers and fruits at his pleasure, only that for all these courtesses and offers, he would permit me at his dainty cheeks to have but one sole kiss▪ Hereuppon the gentle lad began to laugh right heartily and apace, and with a gay and pleasant cheer, filled with all kind of delight that might be, he tendered unto my hearing a found so sweet, amiable, and well pleasing, as there is no nightingale, thrush, or other kind of bird whatsoever, that haunteth either won●…s or hedgerows, that ever gave forth the like, or carried in her tunes, so delightful a melody, and in the delivery thereof thus he said unto me.  
It can not, nor shall (Philetas) be unto me a pain to kiss thee▪ for that of mine own instinct, and proper condition, the ami●…ble custom thereof, is given to delight me, and more esti●… and pleasure have I therein, then there is desire in thee to recover thy youth and wont passed sports, wherein thou hast been conversant, again. But take heed that what herein thou demandest of me, return not in the end to thine own hurt and damage, as a thing altogether unfit and disagreeing to thy present age. For that I can assure thee, that notwithstanding thine ancient estate, wherein thou thinkest thyself to be utterly freed▪ if but in the least sort that might be my lips should touch thee, thou shouldest yet as ho●…elie broil in desire, and covet to fellow me, as any others. Now is my flight so great, as there is neither Eagle, Falcon, nor other foul whatsoever, be their wings never so swift, that can overtake me.  
I am not as thou deemest, a child, albeit in my shape there is at all no other appearance, but for my of spring am more ancient than old Saturn, or any auncientrie itself. When thou Philetas wast here a youngman, and in the flower and prime of thy youth and iolicie, when thou feddest thy herds in these marshes, then and long before that, did I know thee. Thy playing here on these hillocks and plains, whereon thou often soundest unto the hills and rocks thy wont tunes, are not to me unknown. Neither thy fa●…re Amarillis on whose youthful beauties, thy amours waxed then so fervent, and notwithstanding nor she, nor thou could ever perceive me, yet was I still in the midst of your loves, near, and evermore here and there about you. By me Philetas thou enjoyest her as thine own, by means whereof thou hast obtained many children, who as thyself are at this instant grown up to be good herdsmen and labourers. So now have I also in like charge two imps of the same kind, sacred from their infancy to the Nymphs, and honouring in their shepherd habits, both the pastures & downs, Daphnis and Chloe, derlings unto beauties self, and unto whose affections both Pan and Satyrs become chary. Having this morning brought them together unto the downs, I entered immediately for my dispore into thy nourserte, cussing as thou seest, thy fruits flowers and trees, which thou by thy fruitful labour hast there planted, and washing my shape in thy fountains, do solace myself round about the same, which is the cause Philetas, why all thy plants and herbs do grow with so great success, and are in their prime so fair and seemly to show, for that by the self same spring wherein my loving limbs are bathed, thy flowers and plants be watered.  
For proof of this, behold thy trees, and all thy nursery over, round about, and see if by reason of my passage, sport or dalliance there-on, any one jot be broken or perished, the fruits any thing spoiled, or either stalk or herb, so much as by any of my steps foiled, or thy fountains troubled, and then repute thereby thine own happiness, who only among all others of thine age, hast the daily success and fruition of my wished companies. He had no sooner delivered unto me these speeches, but fluttering forthwith over my Mirtes, no otherwise then if it had been some pretty pleasant redbreast, he perched from twig to twig▪ through & beside the green leaves, and in the end mounting to the very top of the tree, I there perceived his bow, his arrows, his quiver, and wings at his back, in the beholding and admiring whereof, he suddenly vanished away, and I beheld him no more. If now my white hears and aged experience, may give testimony of any accident, or that my judgement thereby may be a●…aileable in aught, then dare I assure unto you both, that you be chary unto Love, and that the respects and special disposition of your actions are wholly devoted unto his godhead. Daphnis and Chloe giving heed to this sage conclusion of the ancient Philetas, conceived as great felicity therein, as if he had reported unto them a matter importing a mighty kingdom, upon which occasion, they began earnestly to demand of him, what manner of thing it might be, that so was termed and called by the name of Love, if it were an infant, a bird, or what other thing else that might be conceived, and what was the power and force, and in what manner is swayed. Whereupon old Philetas answered them again. Love, said he, is a God, young, fair, and beautiful to behold, feathered also with wings, by reason whereof his appearance is sudden, and taketh pleasure to be conversant with young folks, he searcheth favours, & maketh the hearts of men to fly as it were with wings, his power is mightier than that of jupiter, he ruleth over the Elements and stars, & over those also who are gods as himself. Yourselves have not so great sovereignty over your flocks, as he hath power over the world. The flowers herbs and trees, are the labours of Love, by him the waters cool, and the winds do blow. I have seen in the very beasts and birds also his power to have greatly swayed. I myself sometimes being young, loved the fair and fresh Amarillis, in which time of the continuance and fervency of mine affection, my feeding and appetite was taken away, I cared neither to drink nor eate●…, nor was capable of any ease or quiet, melancholy and sadness ministered my pleasure, my heart panted in the daily imagination of her whom I loved, sometimes seemed I to be in a trance, an other time as one that were beaten or tormented in his joints. Very flames as I thought, were kindled within me, for the staunching whereof, I often cast myself into the rivers, and called oftentimes the mighty Pan to relieve me, as he that once had been amorous himself of the fair Pithys, and therefore was not unexperienced of such lovely passions. I often thanked the Nymph Echo, in that being in the woods, she sundry times would repeat, the name of sweet Amarillis after me. In so much as perceiving myself many ways to be perplexed, I never could find any remedy whereby to lessen the vehement and ardent flames that fretted within me, save only the last and final conclusion of all manner of affection, which was the sole and only link whereby enchained each to other, my long beloved Amarillis did at the last embrace me. In the enjoying whereof I found that kisses gave ease to sighs, liking to longing, and bedding each with other after marriage concluded, the some of all out determined affection.  
Philetas having thus debated with these seely lovers, leving (by description of himself) within them, a plain and evident discovery of their own known dispositions, and continued griefs, departed at the last unto his dwelling. Upon all which speeches, Daphnis for his part was not unmindful, but finding in himself, a perfect pattern of all that by Philetas was before discoursed upon, he found himself now in greater distress than before, for that Love had long since already begun to touch him to the quick, wherefore seeing by all similitudes of comparing himself with the discourse uttered by Philetas between him & his Amarillis, that the passion be sustained, was only by Love, and that to the quenching and satisfaction thereof belonged, that each of them might freely and solely enjoy each other, he began now to study by all means possible how & in what sort he might best endeavour to compass the same. And hearing that Love was a God, and remembering therewithal that the like of the same shape and proportion which Philetas had to them described, appeared to their parents in a vision, at such time as by express direction both he and Chloe were committed to their cattle keeping, he began in mind, with humble observance to reverence him. But for as much as the extremities reported by Philetas to be continued in his love, had bred in Daphnis more perseverance than the event also therein delivered, could by any contecture of his own, succeed to good and present end, the shepherd vexed with his ancient passion (renewed by a fresh conceit of an other imagination) broke into this complaint, which as a testimony to Pan and the other Nymph, of his unviolable meaning, he reserved at one time or other in some of the trees thereabouts to be engraven.  

To love alas, what may I call this love?  
This uncouth love, this passion wondrous strange,  
A mischief deadly, such as for to prove  
My heart would shun, if power I had to change.   

To change said I? recant again that sound  
Recant I must, recant it shall indeed  
Sith in my heart so many things abound  
As yields desert how ere my fancy's speed.   

Sweet is the lure that feeds my gazing eyes  
Sweet be the looks, that whet my hot desire  
Sweet is the harbour where my quiet lies  
But to unsweet, the means for to aspire.   

Yet must I love? I must, and so I do.  
Suppoze it hard the thing whereat I reach  
Who doubts but pearls are for the best to woo  
And greatest minds to highest actions stretch.   

Be witness yet (my flocks) of all my pain  
And sacred groves that know my just complaint  
Let aye my love within this bark remain  
Whom harmful force have never power to taint.   
Concluding in this solitary fantasy the lodestar of his happiness, who for a little time after the departure of Philetas, had wandered down to the rivers, approaching apace, the very appearance of whom was as the comfortable Sun in the Spring time, casting his radiant beams for stirring up and quickening of all earthly creatures. Their entermeeting together was not without the accustomed pleasure and torments, the mixture whereof, neither grew altogether exempted from the danger of one other particular most strange kind of accident, and thus fell out the matter.  
There was a company of rich and wealthy youths of the town of Metelene, who intending to take a little pleasure on the water, coasted in a calm sea, as it happened from the territory of their own city, down along the coast of Metelene, the bourenesse whereof, made the passage the more pleasant, in that the same is curiously decked with fair and most excellent buildings. These young men, passing along as they did, by the Island side, landed in divers places at their pleasure, not offering violence or hurt to any thing, but quietly still took the delight they came for, and departed. They fished, angled, and fouled, with gins, nets, and hooks at their pleasure, and the country being fertile of itself, they not only satisfied their delight with present pastime, but filled also the table the better with good victuals. And forsomuch as their intendment was only to be merry abroad, they resolved to fasten their boat for one night, with their cord upon the sea side, and there continue themselves in a town hard by upon the side of the Island.  
It chanced that the vintage, not yet being fully gathered in, the labourers working in the night as well as by day, one of them by occasion, had to use a strong cord, which for that he had none of his own, he went to the coast hard by, and took the cord wherewith the boat was fastened. These youths in the morning, seeing the hazard of their boat, being so at liberty, made earnest inquiry of the wrong done, but the party that did it could not be found: wherefore chiding with their host a little for the injury, they retired back again into their vessel, and having coursed up along the coast about two leagues and more, they came at the last on that part of the country where Daphnis and Chloe pastured their heard together. And for that the soil on that side the coast was altogether large and plain, almost without any covert, they determined to land there again, and to have a course or otherwise to hunt, with their dogs or hounds, if so they might be suffered. For which cause they alighting all together from their boat, drew the same as near to the shore as could be, and cutting down the branches from a green oziar standing hard by, they wreathed the strongest of them that they could bend, and therewith fastened their boat safe enough (as they did think) to the land.  
Being now on the plains furnished with their dogs, hounds, and other necessaries, they began to place their toils, on those sides and places that to them seemed convenient and necessary, but their dogs coursing very evil, ran here and there very disordered, insomuch, as leaving the game, they ran into the midst of the herds of Daphnis and Chloe, and their continually baying at their very heels, frayed so much the goats & sheep, that all of them began thereupon to be immediately scattered, whereof the most part of the goats turning directly upon the sea coasts, Daphnis ran after the one part of them, and Chloe after the other.  
The goats there continuing, and having neither bush or aught else to browse upon, got them to the oziar wreath, with which the boat was fastened, and browzing two or three of them upon it, quickly rived the same in sunder, whereby the boat being loosed, floated, by reason of the violence of the waves, immediately upon the seas. The Methiniens misliking their sport, and drawing down unto the coast, miss the boat, and enraged deeply by reason that with such misadventure, the same, by tempest was thus vehemently carried, had no other revenge, but altogether fell upon the poor and solitary Daphnis. Now had the shepherd no mean to make any resistance against a multitude, but defending himself as he could, he kept them back, till he had cried and called for more aid. Whereupon Lamon & Dryas, old Philetas and others a number, that were nearest about them, came forth, and desirous to know the cause of the grief of the Methiniens, they declared, as before you have heard, that being at their sport, and having fastened their boat with a strong oztar band, the goats of Daphnis by their evil attendance and keeping had browzed the same in sunder, wherein their apparel, money, jewels, and divers kinds of provision being, in the same by misadventure of the looseness and tempest was utterly lost.  
The whole fault and accusation hereof, they utterly laid to Daphnis, and for sentence therein they were content to be adjudged by Philetas. Daphnis, he contrariwise pleaded for himself, that in keeping his goats there a long time together they never did spoil or offence to any man, but that the badness of their hounds, & their own unskilful hunting driving themselves amongst his herds, made them to take the sea-coast, where whilst he was gathering the greatest number together, two of them lay browzing upon the green oziar without his knowledge. Philetas having heard both allegations, freed Daphnis fro hurt, and imputed the whole fault as it was to the Methiniens, the young men enraged herewith, began to stand upon force, and answered, that either they would have Daphnis as slave for the trespass, or otherwise be there recompensed their losses.  
Hereuppon ensued on all sides a great hurly-burly, and the Metelins drawing in still to their aids, the Methiniens were quite beaten out with their losses and discomfited. Being returned home to their City, they enforced marvelously to their rulers, the wrongs received by the Metelians, not only affirming, that they had beat them, but stoutly also and untruly inserted, that they had rob and taken their goods from them. The Methiniens conceiving great despite hereof in such sort to have their citizens used, and they also descended of their most noblest parentage and houses, denounced immediately war in open field against the Metelenians for the revengement of these wrongs, but sent them no word at all of this their speedy intendment. For the accomplishment of this exploit, they gave charge and direction to their Captain only for the arming and furniture of 12. galleys, commanding him with the strength thereof, to enter the fields and territories of the Metelenians, and without all pity to forage, waist, and spoil them of all they could get. And farther strength than this they thought not meet at this present to send, winter drawing on as it did, and therefore the less meet to trust a greater float on the sea, than those which were in such manner by them prepared already.  
The captain slacked no time, but furnished with all things necessary, coasted that part of the country of the Metelene, which altogether bordered upon the sea, and on that side of the land next unto them, foraged and wasted all the country over, carrying away divers and sundry booties and preys, as well of cattle, corn, wine, and a great multitude beside of prisoners, all for the most part labourers, and such as at that instant holp in with the vintage. This done, he proceeded further, and foraged also all along the plains, where Daphnis and Chloe maintained their pastures, and they being there in like manner, as the others unprovided of any resistance, they took and did what they would on the borders. Daphnis was not as then with his herd, but traveled a little way to gather green boughs for his young and tender kids to browse upon, & seeing a far off the great concourse & foremost entrance of his enemies, crept into the hollowness of a certain crooked passage under a rock, and there hid himself. Chloe was then a keeping the flocks, who no sooner perceiving the bruit and outrage already begun, took her to flight, & thinking to save herself by swiftness, got into the cave of the Nymphs. But the foragers having quick sight of her, followed the tract so near, as they pursued her even hard to the very cave. There seeing no other remedy, she fell flat unto the soldiers, & praying them for the reverence and regard due unto the Nymphs, that would tender no hurt, neither to herself, nor to any of her beasts. But this petition of hers prevailed not, for the Methinian soldiers after many villainies and despites, done and uttered in derision of the Images, led both her and her beasts away as a spoil, chase and driving both her and them before them, in most cruel manner, and without any pity or compassion. And seeing now that they had fully laden their gallories, with all kind of spoils and booties of every sort, they ceased to tire themselves any further: but fearing the uncertainty of the winter weather, besides the hazard of meetings with any enemies, they desired now none other, but in safety to return home to their own houses, and finding the weather sortable to their purpose, they laid strength to their oars, and made way abroad, the season being so calm, as there was not so much as one puff of wind wherewith to resist them.  
When all the harrying of this great spoil and brute was at the last appeased, Daphnis sorted himself out of his hollow rhine, and came again into the plain, where he left their herds when he went a feeding, and finding there neither goats nor sheep, nor any news at all either of them or of Chloe, but only the empty fields and plains alone without any other creature or company, and the flute whereon the Nymph sweetly was wont to sound, cast down and lying on the ground, his heart sweltered within him by exceeding sorrow, insomuch as he was not scarce able to stand, but likely forthwith to have swooned, and shedding forth abundance of tears, so great was his grief, as he could not choose but cry out upon Chloe, and that also right bitterly. First ran he to the foot of a high and umbragious rock, whereon customably they both were wont to sit and talk togethers, and not hearing any news of Chloe thereabouts, he then trudged as fast as he could down to the sea coasts, and there not finding her, he last of all returned to the cave of the Nymphs, whether him seemed at the first incursion of these soldiers she made haste to fly, and casting himself down prostrate there, at the feet of the Images, he entered into these or the very like complaints delivered in versed before them.  

What grief alas, what hell unto my woes?  
What sorrow may exceed my foul mishap?  
What more excess than mischief where it flows?  
Or deep despair that all my woes doth wrap?  
Unhappy downs, what ailed wicked spite  
To reave from you and me, our sweet delight.   

My tender kids if ere your loving skips  
You bear in mind, and on this pleasaut dale  
How many times your young delightful trips  
Have Daphnis mo'ud to mourn his bitter bale  
Then for his sake that whilom was your guide  
Yield forth your plaints, and griefs to you betid.   

Ye mournful flocks dispersed where ye go  
To uncouth pastures yield my dreary tunes  
Lamenting tears, and sighings full of woe  
Wherein my thoughts for chloe's love consumes  
Let be your food, and your tender walks  
Conceive the sorrow that my pleasure balks   

Return to me your stately herds. Return  
My heart, my joy, my comfort and my care.  
My blissful Chloe once again return.  
Ye sacred Nymphs, or death for me prepare  
Seal up your springs, and praise in secret lie  
If chloe's rape do cause her Daphnis die.   
Infinite were the complaints that the seemly shepherd made in the Cave, missing the sweetened society of his chiefest darling. One while exclaimed he, on the hills, the dales, the springs, the groves and broad stretched shades, each one of which he invited to lament the loss of her, whose presence he adjudged unto them as to himself to have been the greatest comfort.  
Then converting himself again to the Statues in the cause. O ungrateful goddesses said he, that have so suffered her, who honoured your being, with so many sweet regards, to be thus ravished between your hands. O negligent of her whom committed to your charge being an infant, you would thus suffer to become a pray to so vile and wicked persons. Why showed you not your mighty powers in so manifest contempt done unto your Images▪ your Statues, and these springs? what ●…ooted me in all the time hitherto that I have guarded my herds upon these downs, in which never the wolf could so much as bereave me of one of my kids, when now at one instant the enemies have carried away the whole flocks. Alas Chloe bearest thou the like pain of thy seely Daphnis, being now estranged from me by foreign rovers? or remember'st thou at all these fields, these valleys, these Nymphs, or him that waileth for thee now, in this most unfortunate state? Oh if the sound of my lamentations may any ways be carried to those lands and seas wherein thou art (alas to far from me cooped) pity yet his distress, who desperate of all other comfort than that which he solely expecteth in thy happy presence, sigheth and evermore longeth after thee. O Gods and Nymphs, to whom these woods and walks have at any time been chary, revenge the wrong done unto those who have honoured you, and let not my infortunate herds and fairest beauty of my dear Chloe become an honour to that their cruel conquest.  
Having run himself a great while into these & such like woeful remembrances, (as it often happeneth unto minds surcharged with too extreme sorrows) a broken slumber surprised at last his restless fantastes. And lying before the statues of the Nymphs in such kind of Ecstasy, there appeared to him in a vision, three women seeming by their port to have been goddesses, their attire altogether Nymph-like, their countenances freight with manifest pleasures, who yielding unto him sundry and most amiable graces, appeared to put forward to his relief many occasions of comfort, Afterwards the most excellent. as well in stature port and beauty of them all, casting upon the forlorn shepherd, her amiable gestures, said unto him: Cease shepherd, thy plaints and incessant ●…mentations, and henceforth be recomforted, assuring thyself that thy Chloe is, and shall continue in ●…auerie. The Nymph is ou●… charge, to whom her years and education have been committed from her for●…st cradle, and being left an infant in this ●…aue, we have purue●…ed hitherto for her, and so will continue to have special conceit & respect towards her. Think not Daphnis that she is the daughter of Dryas, or borne in this village as thou hast supposed, or that this estate and calling wherein she now is, befitteth her place and parentage. But know that in keeping her flocks here, & doing unto us observances, we have sufficiently laid down and provided what shall become of her, and to what end remaineth both your fortunes. She is not, n●… shal●…e lead away prisoner▪ to Methimne, nor shall as thou doubtest become any part or parcel of●…he it spoil. To assure thee the better whereof, know that we have made means unto the god Pa●…, who resideth hereabout this large Pine, to become favourable and aiding to ou●… purpose, for that his power is more pliable, and better exercised than ours in fea●…es of war. He is even now parted from us, and go●… forwards at our requests in the cause, intending to become a dangerous enemy to the Methimnians▪ Wherefore be of good courage, and raise thyself fr●… this solitary Cave, go ●…ome to thy fostering parents Lamon and Mirtale▪ and show thyself unto them for their better comfort, who supposing thee with Chloe to be taken, and spoiled in this hurly-burly▪ have searched and sorrowefulli●… sought the round about these pastures. Thy Chloe, or ever the fair 〈◊〉 next▪ shall have 〈◊〉 veiled of her purple cover powdered with glimpsing stars▪ together with both your flocks, whole safe and entire, shallbe here again returned unto thee. Such is the pleasure of the Nymphs, that have endeavoured to perform this with such speed, in demonstration of the lo●…e and care they have of thee▪  
Daphnis, asser●…eined in his imaginations of the truth of this vision, a ●…ooke, and weeping as much for joy, as h●…e did 〈◊〉 for sorrow, made his devotions before the Nymphs, and there vowed that ●…f according to their promise his Chloe, and flocks v●…ble mi●…ed were returned▪ he would then sacrifice 〈◊〉 end of his fa●…test 〈◊〉▪ And running from thence incontinent, towa●…ds the image of the God 〈◊〉 who appearing▪ vnderne●… the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had the feet of a goat, and two horns on his head, and held in one of his hands a flute▪ and in the other a young kidoe, leaping as i●… were and skipping about him, he also made his prayers to him; to become forward in the purpose, promising in like source unto him one of his highest and stateliest goats. The evening drawing on, he took up the twigs and small bows which he had gathered for his goats, and departed home to Lamon, who glad to see him, contrary to expectation to be returned in safety, rejoiced with his wife Mirtale.  
By this▪ time now the captain of the Methimenians, having long travailed on the seas in his way homewards, and laden with great spoils, and finding his people also to be something overwearied, thought to take a harbour hard by, and there a while with vic●…uals and some rest to refresh them. And finding at the last a place convenient did there cast anchors, and gave them to all manner of sport that might be to delight them, as those that beside the rich booty they had taken, had no want of wine or other delicate viands, that the Island whence they came, could any ways afford unto them. And careless as they were of all things, freed and secure of foes or 〈◊〉 other hazard, it seemed at night in the midst of their vanqu●…ing, that all the land about them was 〈◊〉 fire, and a sudden noise arose in their hearing as of a great fleet, and armed navy for the seas, approaching towards them. The sound whereof and ●…re adf●…ll sight, made some of them to cry Arm Arm, and others to gather together their companies, & weapons. One thought his fellow next him was hurt, an other feare●… the shot that he heard ratli●… in his ears, this man thought his companion slain hard by his side, an other seemed to stumble on dead carcases. In brief▪ the hurt●…e and tumult was so wonderful and strange, as they almost were at their wit●…es ends.  
This great afr●…ie continued in such sort as you have heard all the night long, and that in so terrible manner as that they vehemently wished for the day, hoping in the appearing thereof to be relieved. But yet their rest grew not by the mornings show as was expected, but rather the light thereof discovered unto the●… far more fearful and strange effects, for the goats and kids of Daphnis were all wreathed and environed about their horns with vine-leaves and grapes, their weathers, sheep, and lambs, howled as wolves, upon divers of their heads were garlands of pine-trees. The seas also themselves were not void of these wonderful shows, for when they that ruled the oars went about to stir them, they shivered all in fitters. When they went about to ●…oyse up their anchors They cleaved fast to the seas.  
The dolphin's tumbling about their vessels, bounsed them so hard, that they were ready to fall in-sunder, and themselves to be drowned in the seas. A dreadful noise was heard from the rocks, not as the sound of any natural crumpets, but far more shrill and hideous, which showed an onset to be given upon them by some weighty armies. Whereof the Methimnians being in exceeding dread, hurled altogether to their weapons, supposing, that the enemies from whom they had re●…t that spoil, had come upon them on a sudden, without giving them respect to gather their weapons.  
By the conceit hereof may easily be gathered, how Pan the mighty sheep heard joining with the Nymphs, became aiding to their petitions▪ and that exercising upon these cruel rovers, the power of a god, he delivered 〈◊〉 their knowledge, how the mighty powers were not for some cause or other pleased with those their spoils and robberies. But the occasion by these Methimnians could not be divined, for that they could not imagine themselves to have rest away any thing sacred either to Pan or any other of the Nymphs. And being as they were in this muse, about the midst of the day, the captain of their galleys (not without express divine providence) was cast in a deep and heavy slumber. And as he lay sleeping in his cabin, to the great amaze of all the company, considering those tumults, Pan himself in a vision stood right before him, and being as he was in the shape 〈◊〉 the Pine before described, he used unto him these or the like speeches following.  
O cruel and mischief us sacre●…egers▪ how have you dared with ●…o great and uncontrolled boldness, in arms and show of wa●…▪ to enter thus cruelly upon my haunts and pastures, dear unto me alone, as whereupon reposeth my special delights, why have your 〈◊〉 from the my stocks and herds, my cattle▪ and beeves, and so thereby dishonoured my walks and valleys, they resting as parcel of my charge, and under my sole protection? And not contented herewith have most contemptuously, and in greatest despite that might be of the Nymphs and of me, who have seen it with our own eyes, carried away the fair shepherdess Chloe, even when she remained in the cave, as committed to their patronage and charge. I here protest and denounce unto you, as I am the god Pan, and as the▪ lively flocks and herds, are unto me of sacred pleasance, that no one of you shall ever see Methimne again, if you do but so much as make mean to pass forwards with this pillage. Nor shall you escape the wreak of those hideous sounds that you have heard, without leaving so much as one of you alive▪ but that the sea itself shall soak you up, and your carcases become a food unto the fishes: Render therefore back again unto the Nymphs their Chloe▪ ou●… to me the flocks and herds you have taken, and set them immediately 〈◊〉 land, that I may conduct them back again into their haunts and pastures, so doing, I may remit the residue of the wrong, and suffer you in safety to 〈◊〉 again into your countries.  
The Captain whose name was Briaxia, being awa●…ed, of this vision, grew into greater fear and amaze of this heau●… charge and speeches. And calling together his soldiers and companies, he caused present search to be made for Chloe throughout all the galleys, among their number of prisoners, and she being found with a chapelet of the Pine tree leaves upon her head, he declared unto them the express commandment and direction of the god: which done▪ they all by o●… consent set hi●… all and Chloe was no sodner parted out of the vessel where she●… was, but they heard from the high rocks a sound again, but nothing dreadful as the other, but rather much sweet, me lod●…ous, and pleasing, such as the most cunning shepherds use▪ before their flocks and herds, leading them unto their pastures▪ 〈◊〉 noise whereof the goo●…es, kids▪ and sheep together with their tender lambs, issued over the ●…ankes▪ without fear or any regard at all of evil, skipping and leaping about Chloe▪ as if they seemed to have i●…iutly with hi●… rejoiced at their present deliuer●… are▪ But the other he 〈◊〉 and flocks with them did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 save only these, to whom it seemed, appertained the sound from the rock, wherewith they alone were called. This showed unto the beholders a great wander which made them fearfully to regard the power and puissance of the mighty Pan. An other thing as strange also as this was showed unto them, for that the sheep and goats of Chloe led by the only music, without them of any person at all that conducted them, followed on the pastures, and fed together as they went, as if they had been thereunto guided.  
It was now about the time that the herdsmen after the midst of the day passed, did accustom to drive their beasts and flocks to be pastured, when Daphnis a far off from the top of a high mount watching the time of his delightsome chloe's appearance, perceived her coming with their herds. Whereupon descending with all haste possible into the plains, with intent to meet her, he called and cried with loud voice. O sacred Nymphs, O honoured and gentle Pan, and without being able to speak the rest, he ran wi●…h main force unto Chloe, and embracing her fast in his arms, grew so vehemently surprised with the thought, that he had no power to unloose himself again, so great and exceeding was the joy whereinto he was whelmed, by the sudden & long looked for sight of her desired presence. But Chloe during this long embracement, so lovingly chafed his spirits as that she quickly recovered his surcharged conceits again. And then recounting together this long seeming time of ●…their short disseverance, impatient each one at the rehearsal of the others evils, they got them to the umbragious rock, wherein erst they were accustomed with great pleasure to be recreated.  
There being set, it is not like but he with great desire searched of her the manner of her ●…ereauing, her using and entertainment during all her absence, the sum and effect whereof she gently recounted unto him, not forgetting, therewithal the hazards and dangers that for her sake they were in, and finally, how that by the gentle conduction of Pan, she thitherto had been guarded and delivered, whereat the youthful shepherd wondering, and knowing how mightily his prayers had wrought in the ears of the Nymphs, he likewise unfolded to her his fortune for his part reckoned unto her his griefs, his search, lamentation, and all things that ever he had heard or seen in her absence.  
Now when they had thus each to other recounted their griefs and cares, and seemed both of them to be well contented and eased of their ill haps, they then devised of these their joyful meetings, to send word to Lamon and Dryas: and only to make preparation thenceforth for their promised sacrifices. Daphnis having performed what he would or desired herein, the ancient herdsmen were by this time come, wherefore they devised immediately to go forward to their sacrifices. Daphnis for himself first wreathing the young horns of one of his fattest kids, with broad vine leaves, in sort as at the appearance of Pan to the captain Braxia, they were decked in the galleys, he brought the same before the cave of the Nymphs, and there slaying the kid, did slay off the skin, and sprinkling wine and milk thereon, hung it up before the Nymphs for a memorial, than banqueted they with the flesh by themselves, and with many praises and notable ditties framed, in their sweet remembrances, prayed all together the Nymphs to become unto them for evermore favourable and gracious.  
But the next day approaching unto them with a novel pastime, brought also a new kind of observance unto them, the manner whereof they wholly dedicated to Pan, in whose honour till this time, neither Chloe nor Daphnis had ever employed any service. To this action also were aiding and assisting both Lamon and Dryas. Daphnis thinking no reward sufficient to him that had done him so great a benefit, as not only to restore unto him again his herds whole and sound, which utterly else had miscarried, but also to bring unto his bosom again his Deer Chloe, which of all other things earthly, he most observed, took forth of his hear●… the goodliest and fairest of all his goats, amongst the which he choose the greatest and most principal buck, him decking with wreathed bows of the goodliest Pine, and all bedewing his forehead and horns with new wine, & the milk of one of his speckled goats, he began to make ready his sacrifice.  
To this new observance done to the god of shepherds, came also the good old man Philetas, and with him his youngest son Syterus, and filling his lap with bunches picked of the finest and most dainty grapes, fruits strange and delicate for that season, Myrtle bows, and pomegranates yet hanging upon the branches, and environed with their green leaves, he approached the Image of Pan, and honouring the same with these sundry presents awaited the rest that should be done and performed by Daphnis.  
Before the pine-tree where stood the image of Pan, compassed as it were in a tabernacle, there was an altar pastoral made of a great square stone, fit and propo●…cioued in ancient time to the shepherds God, whereon the oldest shepherds and greatest heard keepers, were wont for the safety of them and their herds yearly to perform divers offerings and bankers, the recordation whereof, brought good Philetas to this pastance.  
Thither Daphnis having brought his gift, killed the same besides that stone, and taking off the skin with head, horns, and feet, hanging still about it, fastened the same to divers branches of the Pine, and hung it over the image of Pan, then causing the flesh thereof in diverse sorts to be dressed, they spread their clothes on the stone, and therewith first of all began to furnish their banquet. Then took Philetas in the honour of Pan and Bacchus, a great goblet of wine and milk togethers, and drunk thereof as much as he would, and gave it afterwards to Daphnis.  
During all this feast, appointed to the memorial of this seemly shepherdess, the ancient herdsmen and shepherds, when they had well drunk and vitled themselves together, took great delight to record amongst them, each to other their travels passed, then began they to reckon the sports and pastimes of their young years, their feeding of flocks, and keeping of cattle togethers, their prizes won by divers kinds of activities, their shepherds loves, their lays, their many and hard kind of adventures to compass their likings: and finally, out of all these, how many dangers and threatened perils, aswell by thieves, as otherwise, both by land and sea they had escaped. One of them vaunted himself in his youth to have killed a mighty wolf, an other, that with gins and traps he had been the destruction of sundry ravening wild beasts, this man declared how well & thriftily he had kept his cattle, only aged Philetas, forgetting these long passed memories, recorded how many times before all the herdsmen, & all that honoured Pan upon their downs, he had in the service of Love, & sound of all their bravest music gained the victory: Insomuch as, but only Pan himself with his sweet Syrinx, there was never any shepherd found, that in his days was able to excel him. The praise of this Philetas skill, heartened the fresh & jolly Daphnis with his fair Chloe, to pray of him, that at that instant in honour of the gentle Pan, he would manifest unto them some part of his science, as the only gift wherein they had greatest desire to be instructed, and wherewith the god of shepherds delighted most to be saluted. Philetas would not deny them so just a demand, albeit he something excused himself, by reason of his great age, which permitted him not so good breathing, and of so long con●…nuance, as whilom in his youth he had. Notwithstanding, he took in hand the pipe of young Daphnis, and began to proffer thereon, but he found the smallness thereof to be too little to comprehend thereon any excellency of cunning, as being the pipe of a young beginner, and such as whereon a man so well practised, as himself was able to show no great skill. For which cause, he sent his son Tytirus to his lodge, which was distant from thence but half a mile at the most, willing to fetch him his own pipe. Tytirus throwing off his jacket, tripped as light as doth the tender fawn, running away in his shirt, to show unto Philetas, and the rest, his agility, and great nimbleness, during whose absence, to th'intent thereby somewhat to recreate the hearers, Lamon took upon him to recount in their presence▪ the history of the fair and beautiful Syrinx, which he said he heard in his youth delivered by a Sicilian goatheard.  
The company gave heed to his speaking, and Lamon thus began thereupon in their hearing. This Syrinx, said he, the music whereof hath been from Pan recounted always so excellent, was not by the foremost antiquity thereof at the first an instrument▪ but was a fair young maid of favour and feature most singular & perfect, well loved she to chant and sing forth her lays, with grace most wonderful, and harmony right pleasant. Often frequented she the downs, & had great felicity in keeping her flock. The sheep she fed stood amazed on their pastures, and when they heard her tunes, immediately they left their appetite of eating. At her voice they danced & skipped, the lambs themselves frequented her sounds, & at the hearing thereof, would trip upon the hillocks. The Nymphs regarded much her music, and had her oftentimes to accompany their disports. Pan frequenting at this instant the fields & pastures, and having pleasure to chase the fewness & kids round about the groves, heard upon a time the fair Syrinx, sitting by a pleasant fountain under the shady thickets, melodiously to deliver forth her tunes, & hearing the wonderful and variable notes she sang, drew near and near unto the place, and ●…eeing that aswell with excellent cunning, as with most rare and p●…erring beauty she was replenished, he boldly stepped to her, because he was a god, & prayed at her hands the thing he most desired, & being exceeding amorous as he was, he began to tempt the Nymph with gifts, & many other fair promises, saying, that if she would incline to his love, he would cause, that twice a year her sheep and goats should yeane and bring forth their young, & for the greater increase of her flocks, should have two at once, beside, the pastures should unto them be evermore fruitful.  
But Syrinx nothing regarding these amorous offers, unto her made by the god, scoffed rather at his shape than otherwise, saying she aspected not the love of any one much less of such as he, who though he were a god, yet was in proportion more like to one of the goat's of her troop, than to a man. The god angry at her disdainful usage, intended to take her by force, but she preventing his fraud by flight, endeavoured to escape, & he still pursued her. And feeling herself in th'end to be greatly wearied, she suddenly got at last among the reeds, and therein creeping from place to place, wound herself out of sight. But Pan enraged with greater vehemency than before, in that he could not overtake her, curte down the reeds in haste, in mind to seek & sue after her, and not finding any thing else besides the marshes, for that she was utterly vanished, he then perceived the great inconvenience whereunto he was driven, and sorrowing greatly for the Nymph, whom he knew to have been converted into a reed, he cropped the same reed also from the place, and thereof framed in seven quills his artificial and excellent pipe, the most sweet and delicate instrument of any other, the pleasantness whereof recording yet the melody of her from whence it came, beareth at this present the prize and honour of music among all the shepherds. Lamon had no sooner finished his discourse, and that Philetas with all the rest had highly commended it, but Tytirus was quickly returned again with his father's pipe, which was composed of divers reeds great and small togethers, trimmed at the tops with Laton, and to him that had not been acquainted with the difference it might have seemed the former instrument of Pan, which he had framed out of the fair Syrinx.  
Philetas then raising himself on his feet from off his seat, began first in gentle sort, to assay the quills, and finding them to be in order, and without any impeachment of the sound or blast, he began to show his cunning. The noise thereof, was questionless most pleasant, and therewithal strange to be heard, wherein his artificial handling the stops, was such, as he could at pleasure make them go soft or high, as him listed. Then began Philetas for the more enlargement of his cunning, to show unto them upon his pipe all sorts of pleasures and pastimes that he could, the moods whereof he handled with such perfection▪ as all that he played, you would have thought almost to have been a thing indeed effected, whether it were in actions belonging to the feeding and guarding of all kind of beasts, which in sundry orderly tunes he diversly had expressed, or in any sort otherwise.  
All the company werewhusht and very attentive unto his sounds, without one word or other speaking at all, till Dryas at the last rising from his siege, prayed Philetas that he would sound forth some excellent tune in the honour of Bacchus, whereunto himself likewise danced, and there handled the manner of their vintages, one while seemed he to carry the pots, then to bring the grapes in a trough, after to lad the ●…uice into divers vessels, lastly, to tun the wine when it was made, all which so promptly and readily he did, and with so natural a grace, as unto the beholders did minister occasion of great pleasure, insomuch as them seemed verily before their eyes, to see the vines, the grapes, the troughs, the ●…unnes, and Dryas himself, drinking in very deed of the newness thereof.  
This old fellow having so neat and finely done his devoir, ran immediately after to Daphnis and Chloe, and winding their turns next wherewith to conclude the pastime, the fair young goatheard counterfeiting himself to be Pan, and she the fair Syrinx in their dances, he first began to woe her, and she refused, then would he enforce her, and she then departed, he following her, she fled, then ran he to overtake her, and she seeming weary, because the reeds wanted, hide herself closely behind the bushes. Then Daphnis taking in hand the great flute of Philetas, sounded thereon a ditty lamentable and piteous, and of one amorous, that knew not to be satisfied: of one suing, and still was refused, then sounded he the sorrow and grief of his want grown by extremity, and that in so rueful manner as moved the hearers generally to compassion and pity, after closing his pipe under his arm, as one desperate of her he pursued, he chanted forth in their presence this rueful complaint following:  

Ye heavens (if heavens have power to judge of things amiss)  
Ye earthly guides that sway and rule, the stem of all my bliss.  
Ye stars if you can judge, ye Planets if ye know  
Of heinous wrongs, that tendered been to men on earth below,  
Then judge, reput●…, & deem, give sentence and divine  
Of all the woe that rues my heart, and causeless makes me pine,  
If right to men of right belongs with equal doom,  
Then heavens I pray admit my tears, and do my plaints resume,  
Your sacred power it is that yields me bale or boot:  
The sighs I spend are else but waste, and vain is all my suit.  
I love, alas, I love, and loved long I have,  
My love to labour turned is, my hope unto the grave,  
My fruit is time misspent, misspending breeds my gain,  
My gain is over-rulde by loss, and loss breeds all my pain,  
Here my ghastly ghost could halt or go awry,  
I ask no favour for my suit, but let me starve and die,  
But if by fixed faith by troth I sought to climb  
By service long that near should be shut up by any time.  
If only zeal I bear to that I most desire  
And choice regard of purest thoughts hath set my heart on fire  
Why should not my reward conformed be with those  
Whose lives at happiest rate are led and crave aright suppose  
If this be all I seek, if sole for this I serve  
Then heavens vouchsafe to grant me this else let me die and starve.   
Daphnis having ended his song and music togethers, the old Philetas could not but commend therein both his youth and very forward invention, and abashing himself wonderfully of his so great towardness, in sign of love and good affection he bore unto him, he gave him his flute as he that for his present skill had well showed himself of all others nearest to approach his cunning. The guyft whereof Daphnis taking right thankfully, offered immediately his own pipe unto the God Pan, and after he had fet forth Chloe and kissed her, as one whom newly he had found & received from a very flight indeed, the company dissolved hereupon, and each one returned home severally. The night drawing on, commanded every man to the rest, the days travel also ta king end, they jointly reposed their herds in their peculiar places But these two lovers not having herewith fully concluded, all their determination, began in their going homewards, each one to make a particular interest of the others affection. And to the end the better assurance thereof might pass to both their contentments, they jointly agreed to give each to other an interchangeable oath. In so much as Daphnis first beginning, returned back to the Image of Pan from under the Pine, and taking his Chloe by the hand, said.  
I swear and here protest by the God Pan, through whose sacred aid, I purchased thy late deliverance, and whom for this purpose I zealously do here call to witness, that Chloe of all others shall ever be unto me most dearest, and that without her I shall not at any time think my life to be prolonged in happiness. This done, Chloe leading him also to the cave of the Nymphs, swore and protested there the like oath in their presence, affirming solemnly that she would ever live and die with her Daphnis. But Chloe as she that was young, plain and simple, and unused before time to the fidelity of men's promises, recounting with herself that Daphnis in his oath had called the god Pan to be a witness, would needs have in the same cave by oath also to make her a new promise. This Pan (my Daphnis said she) is a wanton god, very subtle and amorous, in whom there is at all no credit or affiance, he hath been enamoured on pities he hath loved Sirinx he pursueth also daily the Naiads, & likewise the Nymphs Dryads, in him is nothing but inconstancy and change, so that if swearing by him, thou afterwards dost falsify thy promise to me given, he will do nothing but sport at thy deceit, because he is trustless himself, though thy love tend to as many as he hath canes in his Syrinx. But swear thou me here before these Nymphs, by the tender goat, by whose loving care & suck thou wast preserved, that Chloe never loving any but thee, thou wilt not forsake her. And when she faileth at any time unto thee of the oath and promise she hath sworn before the Nymphs, then chase her here and there, or slay her at one stroke as if she were a wolf.  
Daphnis greatly contented in mind at this hot●… pursuit of Chloe, would do nothing at all that might impugn their fantasy, wherefore standing before the cave of the Nymphs, in the midst of his herd, he took the horn of a buck in the one hand and of a she goat in the other, and there swore unto Chloe the oath and assurance she required, wherewith the Nymph being right well satisfied, esteemed of the sheep and goats to be gods more proper and meet unto shepherds, whereon to have protested then any other persons, that thereunto might better be accepted. And sealing up the memory hereof with manifold embracements, the stars now ginning to pear through out all the skies, commended the residue of their meanings, to an other days conference, whereby their love and pastimes were at this instant concluded togethers.   

The third book of the loves pastoral of Daphnis and Chloe.  
THe brute of these late broils having greatly enraged the minds and courages of the Metelenians against those of Methimne, in that without all law and order of arms, they had thus entered upon and pillaged their lands and countries, they esteemed it a thing to far unmeet this estate and signiory to put up the reproach of so great a damage, considering that the reputation of their soil was never before enabled to the dishonourable toleration of so heinous and express injuries. Wherefore beliberating with all possible speed to be revenged upon them, the Prince and council of that state, caused incontinent to be levied in their Island, an army of seven thousand footmen, and three thousand horsemen, and thereof made Captain general, a notable and right valiant gentleman, whose name was Hippasia, commanding them to leave the sea (for the winter storms approaching) and to march with easy journeys by land, into the territories of the enemies.  
Hippasia having received his charge, departed from Metelene, and with his company made such speed, as that in very short space he came to Methimnia, where behaving himself right honourably, wherein he used neither cruelty nor tyranny, any in the country where he came, neither fourraged he their lands, or took at all any pray, spoil, or booty from the poor people or labourers. For that standing highly upon the honour of a Captain and his own reputation, he deemed those kind of proferings to be the works rather of some thief or rover, than of him that should be a Captain, or among soldiers esteemed as a general. Wherefore to avoid this slander, and to the intent by some notable valour to accomplish the matter he came for, he took the direct way leading towards their city▪ intending there by force of arms to make his conquest honourable, and not otherwise, In which pretence he well hoped by his more than common indus●…rie to use so great expedition, as that upon a sudden he might enter their ports before they had time to know, or leisure to provide for any resistance at all if it were possible.  
But he in this resolution being now come within a six miles of the city, contrary to all expectation, respecting the great bravado they had tofore time given, encountered with a Herald of arms sent unto him from the Magistrates & people of the same. Who had in request with all submission to deliver, that the Methimnians not seeking war at his hands, or to have to do with arms, desired only to have peace. And that being informed that the uproar committed in Metelene, began at the first by the insolency of a few young men of their city, and only between the peasants of the Island and them, and that the worthiest sort of the Metelenians never consented to the cause, nor had hitherto till this present intermeddled in the matter, they were therefore heartily sorry for the injuries by them on their parts offered, and desired therefore, that as good and loving neighbours, they both might thenceforth traffic and live anew togethers, and for any wrongs by the Methimnians to them tendered, or prisoners taken, or spoils made, they were ready to restore and make amends, in any sort that reasonably might be required.  
Hereupon were these articles with other conditions of peace therein also inserted, and to the Herald delivered in writing, presented to the general Hippasia, who being a man always honourably conceited, and well weighing of the cause in hand, together with the largeness of their offers, albeit he had in commission by full power and authority to do upon them what manner of spoil he might or could, yet nevertheless abstained he utterly therefrom, and yet continuing his forces hard by upon them, gave leave and liberty unto the Ambassadors of Methimnia, to pass through his army, and to go with their embassage unto their Prince, and both to the same Prince and council, advertised he also in report the said articles and offers, desirous to know therein their speedy opinions and pleasure. The considerations of this treaty seemed unto the Council of Metelene to be of so great consequence, and the conditions eke of the same to them so honourable, as that upon a little debatement had with th'embassage they received their offers, & for the more confirmation of what on each part intended (after present restitution made of such wrongs and trespasses agreed upon: and hostages given for a surplusage of money shortly to be paid unto them) they assosiated other commissioners to Hispasia, and by effectual letters returned, gave order unto him and them of a new league and peace to be made.  
Hispasia hearkened to all things to him on that behalf enjoined, & traveling with those persons to whom his authority was here in now annexed, brought the matter forthwith to very good conclusion. Thus was the Methimnian war being enterprised and taken in hand by a strange beginning, assoon as the same came in bruit, by this means all at one instant both published and ended. Toe finishing of this strife, brought the Winter's entry upon their backs: the sharp season whereof, by reason of the great frosts and snows immediately ensuing thereupon in so great abundance, became right piercing and hideous. Now was the uncomfortable time wherein nothing then storms, and blustering northern blasts were so rife, the snow lay thick lined on the ground, shutting the poor labourers with the great depth thereof fast into their houses, the springs rattled down the mountains with their icy streams, the trees spoiled of their gallant bravery seemed as dead, the earth appeared no where but even upon the very brim of the rivers and fountains. It was now no time to lead the beasts to pastures, nor to suffer them almost to go out of doors. The freezing Boreas called for great fires, which according to ancient hospitality of shepherds, was made on a large hearth in the midst of their halls, the blazing show whereof immediately after the morning's cock, invited each one in the cold frosty seasons, to draw round about it: and there with far more easy labour then abroad, to dispatch their household business. The hinds and such as tilled and laboured the grounds, took herein great pleasure, in so much as the bitterness of the weather, became unto them for the time being, a releasement of their hard endured labour, so that sporting themselves in divers household pastimes, they chanted their country tunes, and divers songs accustomed in their vintages to the honour of Bacchus.  
But young Daphnis, remembering himself of his Chloe and all their pleasures passed, accused the gods (as enemies to nature, and her goodly bravery) in this sort to macerate and punish the mother of all earthly creatures, Chloe whose fancy was also as his, thought some manifest wrong to be tendered unto Pan and the Nymph-like fountains, in thus discol●…ring their dainty springs and walks, & 〈◊〉 without mercy upon their nurse's bosom, the sweetest of all their derlings. It jointly grieved them when they saw their satchel wherein they wont to carry their food togethers, their bottle also wherein their wine was many times filled, how in a corner they lay despised and unoccupied, the hills also, the groves, and sweet smelling eglantine, and woodbine's growing on every bushes, did wonderfully vex them to see how all their glory was spoiled. Often would they whister & murmur in themselves saying, O when shall the earth again recover her wont forces, when will the soft and fresh coloured green with motley pinks & sweetest primrosen spring upon these hard knotted turfs, & clustered clods again. And when they beheld their flutes and pipes lying by the walls unoccupied, the echo whereof was wont to resound over all the woods, than grieved it them to think what interchangeable notes, each of them accustomed thereon to deliver unto that other, & how their sheep & goats, would with great pleasure skip & dance at the hearing thereof. These & such like remembraces, renewing in them a kind of pleasure mixed with sorrow, for their overlong debarment of these desired recreations, made them eftsoons to pray, the Nymphs & gentle Pan togethers, to hasten their delivery from these cruel evils, & that at the least wise they would now in the end discover unto them & their beasts the glory of the fair son shining beams. And in making these prayers unto the gods they began to imagine of divers & sundry inventions whereby to compass the company each of others, but to ●…o hard was it for Chloe any way to enter thereinto, for that she was always watched under the wings of her supposed mother, & kept hard to spinning of will and other such country exercises.  
There was before the house of Dryas two Myrtes, between whom did grow also an Iu●…e, the veins whereof wound on both sides over the others boughs, on which the berries were as if they had been bunches of grapes, by occasion whereof, the winter being hard, and the ground thick with snow, there flocked thither continually a great multitude of birds, as well thrushes, redbreasts, larks, ringdoves, and sundry other fowls. Under the colour of these, Daphnis, by pretence of going a birding, having prepared his lime-twigs and other necessaries, to come before the house of Dryas, and under the Myrtes aforesaid, pitched his nets, and laid his lime-twigs.  
The distance between both houses of Lamon and Dryas, was about half a mile, and were it not, that the fury of Love is such, as neither feeleth heat nor cold, weather or wind, whereby to compass the satisfaction desired, it happily might have been (the season being such as it was) the fowler would have had little liking at that instant, to have passed between both houses to lay his twigs, considering that the same having no tract at all, so moiled the labouring shepherd, as with long standing afterward in the cold and wet, he might peradventure have had his pains but hadly rewarded.  
But these, and such like wary conjectures, being scaled from Love, the shepherd neither felt nor regarded it, so well able was his youth to out-countenance the burden thereof. Not long had Daphnis stayed there, before his nets placed, and the twigs thereupon in order prepared, but down came the birds by heaps, and fluttred immediately, by the legs, he took and kept which ●…e list, and the residue let fly. Then returned he back to his nook again, and there watched his birds, and fair Chloes also, to come thither togethers, but the envious soil had so ramnied in their doors, by sharpness of the weather, that there was not so much as a cock or a pullet seen to look out either at door or window. Thus stayed the amorous lad all the forenoon long, and till also the midst of the day was reasonably well spent: his birds were up in his budget, and yet Chloe came not, nor any body else appeared to take notice of his being there, according as he hoped, and feign would by some means or other have procured, which seeing the dismayed youth, he began to accuse the unhappy hour, and unfavoring planet that reigned at his foorth-going, deeming that he had not well picked his time, that the gods were unto his wish at that instant no more favourable: yet resolved he not so to departed and lose his long emploted travel and watching, but desperate how by any chance she might have occasion to issue forth, he began to imagine with himself, what colour or excuse most credible, he might see upon the cause, whereby to take occasion to visit her.  
If (said he) I should say I came for fire, they might ask me whether neighbours nearer hand were not to give it, and so laugh at my folly. If I should, being thus far from home, and now in fowling, crave of their victuals, they might by search of my budget perceive that I had enough. If I should ask of their wine, why, we are not without ourselves, for it is but tother day since our vintage was in. If I shoule councerfeit a fear of the wolf, then where is the trace. If I shall tell them, I came to catch birds, why am I not then packing when I have done my business? If plainly I should then deliver unto them how I came to see Chloe, that toy were too plain, for who is he so simple that would say to a father and mother, I come to your daughter? Insomuch, as none of these occasions seemed unto him to be void of suspicion, as that in handling of any of them he could not needs be descried. For which cause, seeing no way now left to satisfy his intendment, he concluded to make of necessitte a virtue, saying to himself: Well, this too cruel season and perverse enemy to our affections will not ever hold, one day will the spring time be returned to his prime, and then shall I see again at liberty my Chloe.  
Whilst the loving lad was thus concluding upon his impatient affections, and having buckled up all his trinkets, in full mind to be gone: It seemed that Love expressly pitying his hard and over long sufferance, suggested a sudden occasion, which marvelously sorted to the effecting of this his awaited purpose. Dryas and his family within doors being ready to have setten down to meat, it fortuned, their faces being turned from the table, and the meat set on the board, a mastiff that was in the house, seeing none to regard him, suddenly caught in his mouth a great piece of meat from the table, and as it happened, of the best and principal part of the same. Which Dryas seeing, as the dog chanced to go out of doors, he followed, harrying, and rating him with a great cudgel in his hand, and passing along to beat the dog, saw Daphnis without, yet standing under the Myrtes, with his trinkets on his back. Whom when Dryas perceived, forgetting at one instant both his dog and meat togethers, he lovingly turned himself to the young shepherd, and taking him by the hand, led him into his house.  
Daphnis seeing the good fortune hereof, could not frame himself to make any show of refusal, to that which he had before so fervently longed after, but entered willingly with Dryas. Where the first object that presented itself before his eyes, was the sweet Chloe, who meeting also her beloved on a sudden, with great pain, they both withheld themselves that they were not surprised and quite overwhelmed with joy, but modesty, and seemly bashfulness, casting on her a secret covert, and mere constraint in him, that in any sort he might not be revealed, they joyfully each for the present saluted the other, as befitted, and so parting on sunder Daphnis was by Dryas led forward to Nape to be welcomed.  
To tell you of the old Dryas, how much he made of the youth, were wonderful, for that being once entered, he could not be suffered that night to return back again. O thrice blessed hap. how favourable wast thou at this instant to the mutual desires of these lovers, and thou Love, well might it be said, that thy care in them was not so much as in one jot perished. Daphnis looked not to be demanded of his carriage, nor what luck he had then in his birding, but unbuckling freely his budget, he referred unto his friendly host, both the choice and plenty thereof, at his pleasure to be accepted.  
The days naturally approached at this instant to their greatest shortness, and now the purple covert of jupiters' signory, began to take hold in the element, and chase the fast fleeting Aurora, into her western cabin, all bedewed as she was with her dusky snowish covering, made Dryas both in fire, cheer, provision, and all other entertainments to seek to welcome within doors his guest. Chloe was not behind hand to do him all the favours she might, yet was she wooed of a great many, and many wealthy proffers were daily made unto Dryas to obtain his good will to marry her, but the fair shepherdess, wholly devoted as she was to an other purpose, freely now rejoiced at the sight of him she liked, but not so frankly, as when besides the downs they pastured their fruitful herds for the times, and seasons thereof afforded unto them a far greater blessedness. Yet Love continuing his good graces in their avowed furtherance, made Dryas and Nape about some secret occasions to withdraw a little their presence, whereby the amazed youth surprised at the sudden motion, and joth to lose the opportunity, reached Chloe quickly unto him, and stole from her a kiss ere she was aware. O how honey sweet unto him was the pressure of those her candy lips, and how much eased he his mind therein, the content whereof was such as hardly he would have exchanged for a mighty Signiory.  
But when the Nymph also began in loving sort to challenge him, and seemed to counterfeit an amorous mislike of that he meant so near to approach the place where she was, and yet would not come in, if he had not been of Dryas required, how near then began his very thoughts to melt and consume him inwardly, when excusing the manner thereof with some bashfulness, she was feign to pronounce a free pardon unto him, or ever he was able to demand it, else had he been in the return of Dryas discovered by his very countenance.  
But Dryas having no other mind than how to make cheer to Daphnis▪ whom by a more peculiar affection than to any other, he fervently embraced, called for what might be had to supper, and afterwards spent forth the time, until the length of the night called them to bedward, where, with what kind, and how many sorts of imaginations poor Daphnis reposed, I leave to the full pleasing content of every lover to be discerned.  
The next day calling them forth to the celebration of a certain yearly feast, evermore with great and most religious devotion honoured among all the shepherds from the highest unto the lowest of that Island, and all the territories thereunto adjoining, made Daphnis (who till his coming to the house of Dryas, and the preparation there seen was ignorant thereof) to bestir himself early in the morning, with intent to prepare him also with the rest to these sacred observances, the custom and occasion whereof grew thus. There was at that present a Princess, by lineal dissent sprung from out the ancient and most renowned race of their worthiest Kings, who swaying the Sceptre of that Island▪ had with great happiness to her people, fame to herself, honour to her country, admiration to the world, and love to her subjects, in a far estranged manner of policy, peace, and most wonderful success ruled and reigned by the space of many years over them. Their Queen was then, and so always continued a virgin, wise was she as the sagest, regarded as the mightiest, honoured as the rarest, followed as the fairest, and reputed of as the worthiest: Her years as it seemed, were unto her subjects most precious, for she might assure herself of all the Princes that lived in her time, to be most entirely beloved. Her sovereignty and rule in the greatest reputation thereof, it principally bare sway, and chief honour of that Island, yet was she of ancient, entitled to far greater governments, and as then also beside possessed of larger jurisdictions and kingdoms. The recordation of her happiness, her rule, her power, her honour, and virtues, for the manifold benefits thereout daily reaped by her exceeding worthiness, unto the universalike of all her loving subjects, made this day for evermore sacred among them, in which she living they in testimony of their inseparable and grateful piety, love, duty, and affection towards her, with sundry accustomed triumphs, prayers, vows, feasts, and hanqueting, do jointly altogether rejoice, and ten thousand times beseech the sovereign director of all humane actions, that long and ever she may live blessed, famous, happy, and in all her virtuous actions most high, peireles, and invincible among them.  
Of this days reverend and most seemly observance, were fawtors the greatest and mightiest of all the shepherds, for that themselves challenging in the fertility of their fields and flocks, whereby their herds mightily still increased, and they in riches abounded, to be in this action unto her rare and most singular clemency of all others most devoted, as they that by her virtues and long continuance had ever received the greatest benefit, did always therefore jointly and willingly, foremost of all others proceed in this enterprise. The youthful and gallantest troppe of them richly trimmed on horseback and on foot, exercised in her honer divers and sundry feats of activity, the rest, and those that were more ancient, attentively rejoicing and beholding them, Afterwards they altogether came to a public place, to that sole end and purpose, specially of long time reserved, where reveling and sporting themselves universally in all kind of shepherds, pastimes & dances, they sing before Pan and the Nymphs: who reverencing also with like regard the Paragon, whom they honour, assent to their tunes and inusique, and yield thereunto for the greater beautifying of the same, all sweetness and pleasure that may be.  
To this feast came the good Meliboeus and Faustus, the young and gallant Thyrsis, Philetas, and Tytirus, with sundry the most ancient and skilful shepherds, descending out of the places most stately of all that Island, they brought thither in sign of their loves, many fair and gallant presents, which they offered for her safety, whom they honoured to the father of the gods, to Pan and to all the Nymphs. Eliza was the most excellent and brave Princess, in whose favour, memory, regard, and kingly worthiness, they jointly thus assembled, to celebrate with perpetual vows, her famous and long continued happiness. And to the intent, this festival, as it was the day peculiar and most principal among the shepherds, and wherein each one than endeavoured to be commended, in the greatest and highest actions, so gave they it a name singular and proper to their own intendments, calling it universally the Holiday of the Shepherds, which in sort following began to be effectted.  

The shepherds Hollidaie.  
THeir sacrifices, vows and triumphs, with all reverence required being performed, the most artificial & cunning of the shepherds joined together in company, & their delivery upon their instruments sundry sorts of music, having among them all most excellent comfort, & knowing the great worthiness of Meleboeus, & large account among them that universally he had attained, they prayed him first, in example to all the residue, to strain his ancient tunes to the religious advancement of those their forward services.  
The grave old man renied not at all their su●…es, but gladly taking in hand his harp, played thereon a right solemn sound, such as 〈◊〉 Yopas handled in the banquets of Dido, at what time in her princely palace she feasted the noble Trojan duke Aeneas, so or more exceeding far●…e were the strokes of this honoured shepherd, which done, he reverently uncovering himself, and standing up before all the company, delivered unto them in song this invention following.  

IN stately Romance of the worthy lives,  
Of mighty princes free from fortunes grieves,  
An such as whilom in their kingly reign,  
Of virtues self were deemed sovereign,  
From ou●… the stock of every princely line,  
A choice was made of noble worthies nine.  
Of these and such as these a many more,  
Have divers Poets written long ago.  
In skilful verse and to the world made knewne,  
The sundry virtues in their lives that shone.  
For kingdoms well we know and stately rules,  
Possessions large and chair of honour's stool,  
Gold pearl and stones with jewels rich of ptice▪  
Large palaces built by dainty rare device.  
Yea all the pomp that world can here afford,  
Or mass of treasure laid in many a hoard  
Ne are each one but for the room they bear,  
A mortal show that earthly honours rear  
But when we come to talk of worthiness  
Of kingly acts and Princely nobleness,  
Of right renown each where that spreadeth far  
Of honoured titles both in peace and war,  
Of their decease that ever live by fame.  
'tis virtue than that yields a glorious name,  
The wealth of Croesus quickly was forgot  
Darius eke his rule by death did blot  
And Philip's son the Macedonian king,  
His latest power in shroud of grave did bring  
King David's son the type of sapience  
That whilom lived in greatest excellence  
His glorious state in life wherein he was,  
Is shivered all like to a broken glass  
His rich attire his pomp and daily charge  
His rarest buildings, chambers wide and large  
His temple huge with pillars stately built  
Sweet smelling roof with rafters over guilt  
The plated walls of brightest gold upon,  
And costly silver fret with many a stone.  
His palace and the numbered square degrees,  
That from his throne a deep descent contrives,  
With equal numbers matched of lions strong,  
Of massy gold upholding pillars long  
Of marble white, with veins by nature wrought  
In precious wise, as rich as may be thought:  
His costly throne bright shining to the eye,  
That in itself retained a dignity,  
His many pleasures thousands more than one,  
In walks, in fruits, in fountains wrought of stone,  
In music strange, in sugared harmony,  
By sound stroke and voices melody,  
In quick solutions made of strange demands,  
In sundry arts wrought forth by divers hands  
In women's pleasures and their sugared smiles  
In all the gifts of fortune and her wiles  
In what by nature could for sweet delight  
Befit the mind or please the outward sight  
What each conceit imagine could or scan  
That might contenting be to any man  
All this and more by all that may be thought  
On earth to please or liking breed in aught  
Were it in skill, in word, or power to frame  
The same in him did breed a glorious name  
Yet pe●…isht is his rich and fine array  
So that as erst I may conclude to say  
These gifts of fortune, sounds of earthly glory,  
Are of themselves but merely transitory,  
The greatest Prince, but while he lives in power  
Renowned is, and after in one hour  
If virtue be not then to him more kind,  
His death him reaves full quickly out of mind.  
Than not for nought the woorthies heretofore,  
That praised were in elder times of yore,  
And named chief of many Princes erst  
On honours palm to rear a stately crest,  
Did study still for virtue by their names,  
To be renowned with sundry kind of fames,  
As some for zeal and some for piety,  
Some for their wars and noted chivalry,  
Some of their triumphs had by lands subdued,  
Some of their acts by labours eft renewed,  
And each for bounty bright in them that shone,  
For which there be that have been famed alone,  
And so of right aught every noble mind,  
To vaunt himself by very nature's kind,  
Who for they were put forth of finest mould,  
As by instinct of neat and purest gold  
That cleansed is from worst of nature's dross,  
Or tallest timber growing free from moss,  
So is in truth each stately noble wight,  
Of very kind, and so should prove aright,  
So Alcibiades to his endless praise  
The stately lauds of mighty Greece did raise:  
So did with Galls the worthy Charlemagne,  
So sundry kings in Britain that did reign,  
So Albion had her mighty Edwardes, peers  
(And Henries eke) to greatest conquerors,  
So hath our isle (and ever prays to gain  
The joy it hath) a peerless sovereign,  
So Brutus land invicted ever lives,  
By self instinct it proper virtue gives,  
Yet guided still (what virtue else could vail)  
By grace divine which never shall it fail,  
Such is the cause that pricked with former praise,  
Of worthy wights that lived in ancient days  
The seeds long since of all their virtues sown,  
From time to time are still sprung up and grown.  
And springs and buds with ripest fruits are seen,  
Of elder stalks that erst before have been,  
So virtue sways (what end of virtues reign  
So long upheld by Peres and Sovereign)  
O pierles virtue knit with endless fame,  
Do guide my skill and shroud my Muse from blame,  
Thy praise it is, thy mighty praises I  
In royal race do seek to magnify  
Immortal fawtors sacred sisters nine,  
Of sugared arts show forth your powers divine,  
Let not your Poet blemish with his vain,  
The honoured steps of her that sues your train  
Yet blemish must he or unshadowed fits  
Set forth of her, who daunts the finest wits,  
Can earthly eyes give in sight to the son,  
Or reach the course that Phoebe fair doth run,  
Can men the waters in a measure hold,  
Or think on all that may on earth be told,  
Is it in power the skies to comprehend  
Or wit of man the stars to bring to end.  
With reverence yet though virtue seem divine,  
Men may proceed to touch her sacred shrine.  
All have not treft he skill to speak aright,  
Nor may they aim thereat if so they might,  
Immortal Phoebus' radiant in his beams  
Yields dazzled sight, for gazing on his gleams,  
More stately graces mighty powers do shend,  
Than meanest wits are apt to comprehend,  
Yet feeds Apollo fresh Aurora's rays,  
And fluttring fowls that chirp with pleasant lays,  
So Philomene in shade of gloomy night,  
When Diana fair shows forth her silver white,  
Records the comfort of her sorrows past,  
By change of times relieved from winter's blast,  
And as the graces of these beauty's sheen,  
Environed have thee peerless noble Queen  
So peerless, for thou art a stately iem,  
O care of skies whom God and men esteem  
By all thy bounty shed in princely line,  
By all thy virtues which are said divine,  
By all the favours that thou hast from skies,  
And every bliss that on thy safeguard lies,  
Assent I pray, and lowly I beseech  
Unto my muse thy gracious hands to streteh,  
Of shepherds joy, so boldly dare I sing,  
And happy sway thy gladsome years do bring,  
Of fair Eliza then shall I be priest,  
To chant the praise that in her virtues rest.  
No other sound shall be to me so dear,  
As in my song to praise this goddess peer,  
Her noble worthies and her stately knights,  
Whose honoured acts in sundry valiant fights,  
Whose council grave, whose sage advise at home,  
Resembling much the flowering state of Rome  
Commend the titles of their endless praise:  
But first (O Queen) of thee shall be my lays,  
THou stately Nymph, that in the shady groves  
The fairest art, of all whom Diana loves:  
With quiver decked in glittering rays of gold  
Thy maidens bow full seemly dost thou hold.  
Thy garments are of silver shining white,  
Thy feature rare, and filled with sweet delight.  
Thy golden tress like Phoebus' burnished chair  
Whom sweet Zephyrus puffs with pleasant air:  
Like Venus' self (or if but one than she,  
Of all the Nymphs may more surpasing be)  
Then like to her, or her excelling far,  
Thy seemly hue all other features bar.  
Thy gestures are on honours placed high,  
Thy looks do bear a princely Majesty.  
Thy honoured mind with dignity is clad,  
Thy bounty rare the like but seldom seen.  
And port-like show beseeming such a Queen,  
Thy nurse was Skill, Minerva gave thee s●…cke,  
And juno priest to yield thee happy luck:  
Thy cradle was on Tempe placed high,  
Within the walks of pleasant Thessaly,  
Full oft within those virgin years of thine,  
Both Ida woods and banks of Muses nine,  
Both Pegase spring and forked mountain top,  
Hast thou possessed, and every root and crop.  
That Science yields with all the sweet delights,  
Where Poets want refresh their dulled sprights:  
Thy skilful eye by choice hath marked eft,  
And from thy thoughts they never were bereft:  
At morning walks when forth thou list to go,  
A crew of Nymphs attend thee too and fro,  
Like fragrant smell of sweet Aurora's dew,  
When as the twins in Titan give to show,  
The freshest prime of all the pleasant year,  
When lusty green the bravest hue doth bear,  
Or like the blossoms hie on branches sweet,  
That stilled liquor of the morn hath wet.  
Or as the beams of Thetis lover true,  
When from her bed he is but risen nue,  
In eastern skies to cast his cheerful rays,  
Fore dulled minds in spring from dumps to rays.  
So comest thou forth in royal vestures dight,  
Fresh as the Rose, of colour red and white:  
The glory great of Brutus great renown,  
Distilling favours each where drophing down  
The rural gods, about my chariot flock,  
That milk-white steeds of Pegase heavenly stock,  
With breathing nostrils spa●…ling fire amain,  
Do trampling draw, and foamy bits constrain.  
Thy virgin sway the gaftly imps admire,  
And seek by flight to shun their deep desire,  
Which wish to see, and cannot gaze their fill  
Upon her shape whom yet they honour still,  
Of youthful peers eke issue forth a rout  
That fiercely mounted high thy chair about,  
Like to the train that once Bellona led,  
When on her altars proud they incense shed  
Triumphant on the honour and the spoil,  
That fell to Rome by mighty Africa's foil,  
They stately stride, and beating earth and skies,  
With nighing sound of horses loud that flies  
Now here now there, this one, and that amain,  
Doth joy himself to show in foremost train,  
With curled locks like to the blooming spring.  
And colours decked that secret savours bring,  
In costly robes of Pallas curious wrought,  
Bedecked with gold and pearls from Pastole brought,  
Then Phoebe like thou gladsome morning's star,  
To them appear'st, or like the gleams afar  
That issue forth before the glittering chair,  
When Phoebus first him busseth in the air,  
And salved is with favours bright and sheen,  
Of her that called in the Morning's Queen,  
Who veiling of her hue that is so white,  
The darkened shadow of the gloomy night,  
Distressed hearts that long the day to see,  
Forthwith doth lad with every kind of glee  
Such (gracious Nymph) so pleasing is thy face,  
Like comfort yields thy high distilling grace,  
A heavens repose to seely shepherds is,  
To view the shadow of thy heavenly bliss,  
And when thy pleasures be to rest thee down  
Or near the fountain spring at after noon,  
Amidst the shades of highest tops to stray,  
To fore the evening in a summers day,  
Where coolest blasts of sweet Zephyrus' strains,  
His gentle breath throughout his pleasant veins  
Each chirping bird his notes well tuned high,  
Yields forth to thee their sweetest harmony,  
The fairest then of all the gallant crew  
Of water Nymphs, that fields and fountains sue,  
And such as haunt with silver bow the chase,  
Thy virgin steps full meekly do embrace,  
The satires and of shepherds mighty Pan,  
Commands the fields to thy obedience than.  
Since Ceres first these thickie groves pursued,  
And country soil with sacred walks endued.  
Since that Apollo's curled locks of gold,  
For Daphnis love in tresses 'gan to fold,  
Since that Actaeon by the water side,  
Transformed was in forest large and wide.  
There never Nymph so chary was to view,  
That did the walks of Phoebe chaste pursue  
Nor of such honour blazing in each eye,  
Nor crowned so with stately dignity,  
Nor to her Peers and vassals all so dear,  
Nor of such port and ever loving cheer,  
Ne midst so many that right famous been,  
In grounded Science was so thoroughly seen:  
Nor better could with Muses all accord,  
Nor unto whom the gods could more afford,  
Nor yet of Uirtue held so high a prize,  
Nor in all knowledge deemed was so wise,  
Nor kept by peace, more quiet all her days,  
Ne happy stood so many divers ways,  
As fair Eliza thou of heavens the care,  
The elder times ne may with thee compare,  
For if I should thy sovereignty descrive,  
These 29. years for to contrive,  
Thy royal state and glory passing great,  
Thy wondrous acts if here I should repeat,  
Th'unspotted honour of thy princely race,  
And how thou rulest now with kingly mace,  
The riches that by this thy rule abound,  
The happy days that we for thee have found,  
Thy bounty shining as the crystal sky,  
Thy years replenished with all clemency,  
The load star of thy gracious sweet conceit,  
Yea when it was surprised by deep deceit,  
It were a world to think upon the same,  
So honoured is each where thy Princely fame,  
Not English shore alone but farther coasts,  
Both of thy name and of thy honour boasts,  
In uncouth seas, in soil till then unknown,  
Thy worthy Captains have thy praises blown,  
And pillars set and marks of signory,  
Advancing there thy mighty Monarchy,  
And lands subdued tofore by foreign states,  
That hear report of these thy blissful fates,  
And of thy peerless name so mightily borne,  
And how thy Uirtues do thy seat adorn,  
The glory of thy stately sway and power,  
That springeth up as doth the lily flower,  
They sue and seek and humbly make request,  
To yield themselves unto thy high behest,  
So sacred Queen so fits the noble name,  
Of this our Is●…and still to rule with fame,  
So fits that she who others doth excel,  
Be deemed from all to bear away the bell,  
Eft have the shepherds song thy sweetest praise,  
And them ychaunted on their holidays,  
Eft in their feasts they do record thy deeds,  
And regal mind whence all thine acts proceeds,  
And with half sounding voice of shivering dread,  
As men amazed at thy seemly head,  
They with whispering sound as eft thou passest by,  
They pray to jove to keep thy Majesty,  
Lo thus can shepherds of thine honour sing,  
That of their joys, art very root and spring,  
Thus Meliboeus of thy honoured name,  
That from the line of mightiest Princes came,  
Of all thy virtues and thy stateliness,  
Which art the crop of very gentleness,  
Rejoiceth a●…e his tunes thereon to frame,  
And meekly prays thou shend his Muse from blame.   
Meliboeus had no sooner ended his song, but the whole company clapping their hands, highly commended these his Metaphorical allutions, and there was not one shepherd of them all that did not admire his rare and delicate invention therein. And for so much as in honour of this so stately a parsonage, the foremost memory of all their meeting was at the first purposed to be continued. The shepherds intending the celebration of this whole day to be perpetually consecrated to the eternal praises of her divine excellency, and knowing also teat Meliboeus (greatly devoted to the services of this Nymph) had not omitted at many other times before that to pen divers ditties advancing the most singular parts, that in this Paragon were ordinarily appearing, they altogether requested him, and he in performance of that their earnest suit, caused his two daughters yet virgins, the one of them named Licoria, and the other Phoenicia to stand forth, each of which having a voice sugared with the most sweetest delicacy that might be, & therewithal in countenance and gesture naturally adapted, to what might be required to the most pleasing ear, & best contented eye in augmentation of their melodious harmony, the eldest first, being Licoria yielding her soft and pleasant strokes, fit to ravish the mind of any curious beholder, unto a dainty harp fastened with a silken scarf cast over her alabaster neck (whereunto by her father she had with rare perfection been instructed) and casting her modest eyes eftsoones to and fro upon the attentive regarders, manifoldly admiring (as it were) in her song, the wonderful graces that therein she conceived, delivered her tunes answerable to the proportion of all the residue of her behaviour, as in form following the same is repeated.  

Phoebus vouchsafe thy sacred Muse to lend  
Pieria dames, your solemn tunes apply,  
Aid sisters nine with me your deity,  
That to your seats these sacred notes may bend,  
That you with me, and I with you may praise,  
Eliza's name and blissful happy days.   

A Nymph more chary far to gods than men,  
Of gods beloved. O happy we that know,  
O blissful soil where blossoms such do grow.  
Unkindest earth that should not love her then,  
Unworthy much of her that loved thee still,  
Whose love the gods accept with better will,   

People unkind, but those that virtues prize,  
You kind by love do know what joy it is  
To dwell on soil where peace yields settled bliss,  
Unkind the rest too much that do devise  
To rue the soil, the seat, the state and all,  
Of her, for hers that lives, and ever shall.   

O Nature, wert thou now as firm on earth,  
By equal mixture with the heavenly powers,  
That in the soil where grew such princely flowers,  
The bravest blossom sprung by stately birth:  
Now living still might ever live on mould,  
And never fade (O gods) that you so would.   

Virtue be dumb, and never speak of grace,  
And gracious Nymphs, that Virtues handmaids be,  
Shroud all at once your sweet eternity:  
Be Virtue now no more, nor in your space  
Let grace be set without in large account,  
O sacred Queen, thou others dost surmount.   

Peace be thy nurse to feed thy happy years,  
And endless Fame whereon thy throne is set,  
To sound thy praise my Muse shall never let:  
Live long, and reign in joy among thy peers,  
Dear to the gods, to virtue, to thy soil,  
Kept by thy grace from pray of foreign spoil.   
She having done, the other of the maidens, fair and young Phoenicia nothing backward of the number of all her sisters deservings, with gracious countenance replenished in all kind of seemly favours (much like unto Cydippe when in the temple of chaste Diana kneeling at Delos by reading the subtle poesy of Acontius in a golden apple trilled before her, she unwittingly had vowed herself to his choice, and that in the presence of the goddess, which in no wise might be infringed) her sister yet holding the harp as before, and coverting the present sound thereof to the Muse in hand, she thus framed herself, admirable in grace, and surpassing in delivery, she first beginning, and her sister answering, and both jointly repeated, as sorted out in the ditty oftentimes to be contrived.  Phoenicia. 
Lul pleasant fancy, bring my thoughts to rest  Licoria. 
O delicate Fancy,  Phoen. 

The Muses on Ida sweet Phoebus be priest,  
That whilst I admire her whom heavens do love best,   Lic. 
This most sugared Fancy,  Phae. 

Wherewith my delights are fully possessed,  
With musical harmony, with songs of delight,   Both 
All hail noble Princess may sound in her sight.  Phae. 
Fair Phoebe thou knowest my muse doth not lie  Lico. 
In chanting this fancy,  Phae. 

If peerless I vaunt her whom precious in sky  
Thou praizedst for perfect to blaze in our eye,   Lico. 
Extolling my fancy,  Phae. 

O dainty surpassing sweet Goddess say I,  
Enhaunsing thine honours whence all our joys spring,   Both 
Thrice blissful Eliza thy handmaids do sing.  
No sooner had ended the music, & Meliboeus with his daughters a while reposed, but Tityrus, whose turn was next, prepared himself. And calling first the immortal gods to witness, how much both himself and all others, were bound to their sacred deities for the happy enjoying and preservation of this their pierles princess, willing to honour the feast, and to show how weightelie he conceived of all their purposes then presently intended, he framed his ancient years to refresh renewed memory of his youth long since passed, wherein he was known in all kind of shepherds pastimes to have excelled. In the recordation whereof perceiving that he was already mellowed in years, and grieving that by reason of his drawing age, he was now debarred the ordinary use of that in which being a bachelor he had so greatly delighted, (and yet not so far oreslipped, but that both skill & voice reasonably served, to do any thing, that of the most cunning shepherds might not seem utterly to be misliked) he ordered his tunes to these proportions, acquainting thereby the company with that, whereunto those unpractized seasons of his, had not of long time before been accustomed.  

Since first thy soil O country Pan I knew,  
Since on the dales my sheep long time I fed,  
Since in my heart the sweet remembrance grew,  
Of all these valleys where the Nymphs do tread.  
Since first thy groves and pleasant shady tops,  
Thy crystal springs and situate high prospects,  
The sacred dews which from the branches drops.  
That fresh Pomonae on thy grounds erects:  
Since all these pleasures thousands more than one  
My ancient years partaked have ere this  
The mighty jove doth know wherein alone,  
I have repozd the some of all my bliss.  
To Tytirus not all the yeaned lambs,  
Nor of his flock a rich increase to gain,  
Ne sporting hops of young kids by their dams,  
Are half so pleasing or to him so feign  
As are (Eliza blissful maiden Queen)  
The sweet record of all thy happy days,  
Those thoughts to me, full oft have gladsome been,  
And on these joys consist my shepherds lays,  
O happy soil long happy mayest thou stand  
So sacred be thy mountains and thy groves  
So be the walks of that thy pleasant land,  
Frequented eft with store of fatted droves,  
Let be thy glory like the shining son  
That glides as far as doth the whirling sphere,  
And as the course from whence the rivers run  
That through the earth a compass round do bear.  
First fail the skies first Phoebus cease to range  
First crystal dews back to your springs return  
First heat and cold desist your daily change,  
And let the fire leave of his force to burn,  
Let Phoebe first by night her wandering stay  
And darkened be to us the starry pole,  
Let Phoeton lose again the milky way  
And fishes leave to swim within the pool,  
Cease birds to fly cease Philomene thy song  
And yearly spring that yields of fruits increase,  
And icy drops that dangling under song,  
Thy frozen chin let (Saturn) ever cease,  
Ere Brutus' soil, thou seat of mighty kings,  
The ancient race of haughty princes peers,  
Ere from thy lap the slip whence honour springs,  
By this default do lose the sway it bears,  
Ere thou the glory of the present rule,  
And honour tied long since to thy desert,  
Thy stately conquests near that didst recoil  
With cloaked guile dost seek for to insert,  
But waste thy glory with the mightiest powers  
And stay thine honour on the greatest fame,  
And self-same time that all things else devours,  
Renew thy faith, and yield thee glorious name,  
As fair thy fate as are thy happy years,  
As firm thy seat as ever Princes was,  
Great be thy sway as any strength that rears  
The mightiest force that ever man did pass:  
And fairest thou of all the Nymphs that haunt  
These sacred walks, in which we shepherds won,  
So jove vouchsafe our springs of thee may vaunt,  
As erst before our fertile fields have done.   
Tityrus having herewith ended his song, and the shepherds their music ac one instant togethers. Thyrsis stood up, a youthful imp seemly in shape, and as pleasing in behaviour as delicate in conceit, sweet were his countenances, his person generally commended of all the shepherds: much was he beloved for that he deserved. There was no Nymph whatsoever, unto whom either fountain, or broad shady woods were of resort but had him in great expectation for the virtues by him pursuied, and as much remained, he devoted with all obeyzaunce to the greatest of their services as any shepherd might be. Great was he in account amongst them, as well for his more than common inclination to the highest exploits as that by descent he was sprung out of those that whilom in that soil passed in greatest reckoning. And for as much as his youthful desires led him forwards to far loftier purposes, than the aged years of the other seemed for the present to be adapted unto, he converting his Muse to those delights whereunto he was accustomed, used both time and music to this purpose following.  

give me thy Syrinx, Pan, give me thy flute,  
(A worthier music far, beseems my lays)  
In speech of her I tell, the best are mute,  
And may not wield the greatness of her praise▪  
If any Muse of all the Nymphs that stays  
About these walks and lovely pleasant springs  
Have greater gift than others, let them rays,  
The sweetened lauds that fair Eliza. brings,  
And sharpened be my wits, O God of Love,  
(Love hath men say a fury tha●…ts divine)  
Yield me the scope of thy delights to prove  
And in my breast thy sweetened fancies shrine,  
O would my pipe had such proportions fine,  
Or that derived from greatest excellence,  
My endless skill her fewtures could define,  
Whom gods and men admire with reverence,  
Vouchsafe my Goddess yet vouchsafe to see▪  
The will I have to wield so high aspects,  
Yet shall it be henceforth a grace to me,  
That Love thy name within my Muse erects,  
Much gracious Sovereign 'tis that Love effects,  
Wherein if skilful Pan and Nymp●…s me fail,  
My active forces shall with large respects,  
Compence the rest, and yield me more avail,  
Let be as yet for this not all in vain,  
My sacrifice, my vows, and prayers eke,  
Wherein O Nymph, thy fame shall aye remain,  
Enhanced by those that to thy Bounty seek.   
The wearing away of the day and other brave feats and exercises to be accomplished, with sundry gallant shows in honour and great regard of this peerless Princes, would not permit the longer continuance of their music and inward pastimes. wherefore Thi●…sis having in this his last deliverance, concluded, what for the shortness of the time, might of himself be propozed, and finding it an endless Labyrinth for any of them in distinguishing her commendation to enter into the singularities of all her most worthy and ine●…imable praises, which the farther they waded into, the more they intended, in somuch as the same seemed a thing evermore to be, but never able by any skill or invention whatsoever fully to be determined, they contented themselves with the testimonies already given of their good wills, and as forced thereunto gave over for the present, giving place for the execution of the rest to the times apt and convenient. Now the night approcheing, they spent in feasting, reveling, and dancing, wherein Philetas occupied his pipe whilst Daphnis and the other youthful herdsmen, sported in the counterfeit disguisings of sundry shapes of satires; to the accompanying where of Chloe and the rest of the shepherds daughters stood forth, and by them were in divers strange gestures sued unto and entreated: But Phoebe being by this time wound into the highest skies, called fas●… to the rest: whereupon, as all things have end, so this religious festival (not thereby ●…ing at all) was but unto the next years solemnities, and after to the perpetuity of their wishes, by their whole consents discontinued, wherewith, as they that ever wished happiness, long life, health, ●…ie estate and unmatchable prosperity, unto her for whom they lived, making a great shout in conclusion, each one severed themselves thereupon, and so for the present departed.    

The fourth book of the loves pastoral of Daphnis and Chloe.  
THis stately festival and holy day of the shepherds being thus solemnly ended, Daphnis with great longing continued the winter season, and often took occasion to watch the birds & his Chloe togethers, until at the last the pain of this untamed sharpness vanished, and the fresh coloured spring had new mantled again the withered plants in her sommer●… livery. The delight whereof, none otherwise then is accustomed to the residue of Nature's derlings, rejoiced the hearts of these two lovers, aswell for that the occasion thereof became a medicine to their wanted disseueranc●…, as that also the jollity of the prime then being in her excellency, revived the dull conceits of every one, and confounded the winter's melancholy before passed, with a new manner tender of her surpassing sweetness & bravery. Their herds unpatient of their long penning in, now driven to their accustomed pastures, took pleasure to climb the ●…arkes, and to lift up their horns over the fresh springing hedge rows. Universal rejoicing was in every thing▪ and now seemed it a kind of lovely satisfaction, to call in question their frequented places of conference, of delight, of disturbance, and of sorrow that had happened unto them.  
And as the spring passed in this kind of pleasure, so likewise was not the summer void of the pastime▪ the 〈◊〉 belonging. In which occurred unto them sundry actions, as well to the in●…endement of their present love, ●…s in other occasions right pleasing. It happened at one time amongst the rest; during this season that divers fishermen being in the se as▪ & the weather caling, the sound of their songs and voice redoubled so much, upon the rocks▪ as thereon gave a most shrill ●… not able Ecch●… the wonder hereof seemed unto Chloe very great as she that seldom had been used to the difference of the same, by reason of which, supposing that on the other side of them, there also had been an other sea, and other fishermen, she began to look about her, demanding of Daphnis, by what reason they should in their song so well in that manner agree together. Daphnis smiling at her simplicity, the better to satisfy her demand, and to inform her at large of the pleasures of the ●●●ld, discoursed unto her the certainty, by revealing unto her the tale of the Echo.  
There were (said he) in ancient time (as yet there be) Nymphs of divers sorts, some of the groves, some of the woods, some of the rivers, and others of the springs, and fountains. Of one of these sorts was sometimes a gallant girl, who was called Echo, she was nourished by the Nymphs, and instructed and brought up with the Muses, the chary account of whom, gave her (besides favour) a most excellent knowledge and cunning in all kind of songs and instruments, insomuch, as being come unto the very flower and full prime of her age, she was for her unmatchable skill deemed fit to be entertained with their praises, with their companies, and with their pleasures, and being conversant with them wholly in sort aforesaid, listed not to reck of at all the company of men, nor of God, but being a virgin by disposition, sought fully and wholly how to preserve the same.  
Pan (my dear as thou knowest) being a god altogether, amorous▪ and solacing himself as his nature is in the woods and pastures, h●… hearing once of this Nymph, and began thereupon to wonder at her dainty and melodious sounds, endeavouring (if possibly he could) to woo her to his favour, but when in no sort he could compass it, he waxed angry at the Nymph, and she being alone in the fields without any company, he wrought so wonderfully by his power, as that for mee●…e despite of her favour, he enraged against her all the heat 〈◊〉 men and shepherds of the country where she was, that like wolves and mad dogs they ●…are ●…he poor Nymph piece-meal in their ●…urie, and throwing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here and there, as she was yet singing her songs, the very earth ●…t self favoured her music▪ and here acted immediately 〈◊〉 sounds, in ●…orte as 〈◊〉 agreeing to this day with the Muses in accord, the same tune that is played she recordeth, the same song that by any voice is delivered, she repeateth.  
The earth thus retaining the former condition of the Nymph while she lived, when either gods, or men, or instruments of music, or beasts, or Pan himself soundeth his sweet Syrinx over the hollow rocks, it counterfeiteth evermore the same notes, which the director of shepherds oftentimes perceiving, sometimes runneth skipping and leaping after the sound, not for desire or hope he hath to enjoy his fair Echo, but only to find by what instinct the manner of his ditties are so disguised withal, without knowledge, how, or whence it cometh.  
The recital hereof grew of such admiration unto Chloe, as that to make present trial thereof, herself recorded divers tunes upon her flute, whereunto the Echo, as it were in confirmation of that which Daphnis had said, immediately answered, not without the great pleasure of the shepeheardesse, who had felicity oftentimes to sport herself with those redoubled sounds. But this dalliance of theirs, and sweet society evermore thus continued, could not yet assure their minds with such safety, as that the same should always have dured. for that Chloe becoming both tall in stature, and ripe in years for a husband, the sons of divers the wealthiest shepherds frequented earnestly the house of Dryas, to woo her. And praising in their minds all the compliments of her favour and wonderful perfections: some gave in hand both to Dryas and Nape many fruitful presents, others promised unto them a great deal more, so that Nape herself being now also stung with the covetous gain thereof, counseled her husband Dryas in any wise to marry her.  
And to the intent to move him the rather thereunto, she forgot not to lay before him her ripeness, and how adventurous it was to keep in their house a maid of such beauty and stature to continue unmarried▪ putting him also in mind how that accepting the present offers, he might now marry her to his profit and her own advancement, but if she fortuned once in keeping of sheep to lose her maidenhead, they might marry her afterward for roses and nuts to whom soever would be contented to take her Dryas, as willing as herself to finger the coin, and loath to lose the opportunity in hand, would not yet overhastely conclude any matth, for that him seemed still to have a mind to hearken after her parents, and for this cause found he divers means and doubts, whereby to delay the matter from one time to an other, whereby the subtle gnoffe, being of a great many required, obtained also at their hands great plenty of gifts, the fertility whereof he wished by all policy so long as he might to draw on unto him.  
Chloe was not all this while ignorant of these devices, as she that was a principal party therein to be acquainted, but sorrowing in her mind of long time in fear of the disseverance to be made of her and Daphnis, she at the last, after much sighing and lamentation revealed it unto him. The young youth astonished at the first, began to be think himself immediately of the mishap intended, and his own irrecuperable grief, if the same should proceed to be effected, but recomforting for the present her sweet imaginations, and over tender spirits, he declared unto her, that he had good suppose, that if he demanded her himself of her father, he would not greatly say him nay, for that he thought he was not so much backward, but that he easily might surmo●… in any thing, but in wealth, the greatest of all the other shepherds. Only this somewhat quailed his assurance in that his foster father Lamon was not rich, but rather a very poor man, and such as no way could devise to satisfy the courto●…snesse of▪ Dryas. Notwithstanding which, he yet resolved, whatsoever came thereof, to put the request in adventure, and this to accomplish, Chloe herself did also advise him.  
Not for all this durst the bashful youth, at the first time to reveal it to Lamon, but rather chose, as with whom he might be most boldest, to make known his love before hand to Myrtale. Myrtale, she held ●…o secret of it▪ but the same night also told it to Lamon. The blunt fellow, quite contrary to expectation, accepted the motion but very badly, calling his wife, beast, dol●… and sottish ass, that so rashly without consideration at all, would become a mean to bes●…w their 〈◊〉 (whom of what parentage he was descended they little knew) upon a simple 〈◊〉 heardesse, the testimonies of whose reputation, being found with him, did promise unto them a far better fortune, and whose parents, if happily by his being in their custody might be found, it might not only perchance be a mean to enfranchize them from that their yoke of servitude, but happily also enrich them with possessions of greater value than those that then they lived upon.  
Myrtale hearing her husband's conjecture, would not for this discourage the youth in his fancy, for fear least quenched of all hope thereof (being so sharp in love as he was) some worse matter might betide him than they expected: wherefore laying thereupon some other devices, she proposed unto him their poverty, and the riches of those that were tendered unto Chloe, likewise their servage, by reason of which nothing was their own that could be employed to his preferment. But (said she) be ruled by me, the girl I know doth love thee, and in respect thereof desireth to enjoy thee above any other. Do this therefore, that shoe acquaint her father with the purpose, and happily being her own suit, he will the sooner assent unto thee, and require my husband Lamon for thee. By this excuse Myrtale supposed with herself honestly to have shifted off Daphnis: for well stood she assured, that Dryas for his part would never consent unto it: but the simple goteheard nevertheless took the deferment in good part, and knowing with himself, that there was no supposition of treasure to be had to set forward his demand, he did as many other poor lovers, intent to proceed by entreaty.  
For the furtherance hereof, it fortuned, that the Nymphs evermore gracious unto their joint affections (Daphnis sleeping at night) appeared unto him, to whom, being in shape accustomed, the eldest declared, that the patronage of his love▪ rested in the perfection of a greater deity than themselves, but to give him mean to accomplish it, by mollifying the flinty conceited disposition of Dryas, that could they do: And it to bring to pass▪ return thee to marrow next said she to the place where the last year the boat of the Methimnians by unloosing the ozia●… twig wherewith it was tied, was lost and driven to the Sea, there by tempest of the weather shalt thou find in the bank under a bush hard by the same oziar, a bag of three hundred crowns, which in overturning of the same boat, the waves did there drive on land, and for that it hath hitherto lain covered with sand and moss thrown out of the sea, no man hath yet ever found it, take that purse, and give the money to Dryas, that shallbe sufficient for the present to show thou art not utterly devoid of riches.  
Daphnis awakened out of the dream, longed earnestly for the morning, and the day appearing, ran in all haste to the sea coast, where searching in the place appointed, he found the purse and gold therein. Now thinking himself to be the wealthiest man of all the shepherds, he hied him first to the fields with his flock, & after debateth the matter to Chloe, and without farther stay (requiring her to have care of their beasts) he hasteneth as fast as he could to Dryas. Being thither come, he saluteth the man, and afterward setteth forth unto him his occasion of coming. I am said he, Dryas as thou knowest thy neighbour, well know I what belongeth in every thing to the country, the ordering of vines, Olives, and husbandry, is not to me unknown. How able I am and with what good success and skill I have guarded my herd, Chloe herself can witness, and the proof itself will discover. Thy daughter is wooed of a great many, none of which as I, can or may so well deserve her, they proffer the for thy good will, goats, sheep, oxen & corn, as much as will bring the up three or four chickens. But Dryas, though both for neighbourhood and these causes before alleged, I might seem in this action to be preferred, yet for that thou shalt know that as well as in other qualities I will not be behind them in gifts, give me my Chloe in marriage, and take here three hundred crowns for thy labour, which unto Nape here, and thee, I frankly and freely do render: but with this condition that you both promise me never to be aknowne of the present, no not to Lamon himself, for whatsoever hereafter that herein may be supposed.  
Dryas & Nape seeing so gross a sum, the like quantity whereof they had never seen before, being overtaken with the covetousness of the same, gave their immediate consents without any further denial, and both took upon them thereunto to draw the good liking of Lamon. All business therefore now laid aside, and the purse first locked up with the gold, Dryas goes forward to seek out Lamon and Myrtale, and to them breaketh forth the purpose intended. The seely man with his wife was winowing of corn, and at the first sight began to complain of their hard pennyworths, and the had yielding thereof, all which (after the manner) Dryas in his blunt & groslike condition recomforted, and proceeding from out thereof began to demand of them Daphnis for his daughter in marriage, & added further that albeit of others, he had been therefore fairly offered, yet of them he demanded nothing, but rather was willing to contribute of his own to have their consents, his reason for that they had been nourished, brought up, lived, and kept beasts together, and that he stood most assured of, they loved and entirely favoured and desired each other. Lamon who could not for the objections aforesaid excuse himself by poverty, by want of age of the youth, by difference of education, nor otherwise, and fearing to disclose the thing itself, which in verity did withdraw him, which was the doubt and expectation of his parentage, thanked Dryas heartily of his good suppose, commended the maiden, and praised his courtesy very highly, but yet answered there withal, that he was a servant to another man, and that living in servitude as he did, he was not by reason of his bondage to dispose of any part of his own, without his lords consent. And forsomuch as to the agreement of this match, it seemed a thing meet and pertinent to his duty, to have him thereunto required, he persuaded him they might continue friends, and let the conclusion of the marriage suspend till the time of the next vintages, which not being long, his L. he had understanding would then be there in person to survey the state of his house and manner of the country, & then with the good liking on each part they might be the better solemnized. But herewithal Drias (said he) I will of one thing advertise thee, that thou shalt not in matching with him marry thy daughter to one of base birth, or place of mean calling, but better a great deal descended than either of us both be, and so giving drink each to other, they upon this resolution for the present departed.  
Drias who had not put these last speeches of Lamon into a deaf ear, as his way lay homewards, revolved in his mind the state of his Chloe with that of Daphnis, which by the few speeches that by Lamon had been opposed, he found to be by likelihood of good place, which made him not a little inwardly to rejoice that therein was some hope that she should not be much disparaged: in the consideration whereof, he began to bethink himself whether Lamon finding him as he did, had therewithal received any such like ornaments to show his birth as himself had done with Chloe, and tickled with the conceit hereof, with twenty prayers made to Pan and the Nymphs that it might be so, he came in these muses to the place at last where rested young Daphnis, together with his beloved Chloe, to whom having recounted the story hereof, a world of joys befell immediately unto the youth, considering that Autumn was now at home, and the marriage should no longer be deferred, and thanking his supposed father in law Dryas a thousand times the old man departed.  
Now after these shepherds had both dispatched their business, and the sun ready to go down, they passed homewards, gathering in the ways diverse sorts of apples, the year was plenty, and fruits were now in their ripeness, among the number whereof, they chanced to come by one tree, the fruit whereof was all gathered, and the tree thereby of the leaves left almost naked, only one apple excepted, the beauty of which was as the colour of the shining gold mixed with an orient red of the freshest and bravest hue that might be, this apple stood on the very top of the highest branch of all the tree, and for the height thereof seemed to be left ungathered: the lovely lad, casting eyes thereupon, thought that it was a present fit to be given for a love token, and suddenly getting up to the tree, climbed so nimbly that he brought it down in his hand from the top where it grew.  
Chloe became greatly miscontented at his rashness, and fearing to see him fall, and wound herself from the place among the thickest of her flocks, but Daphnis pursuing the gentle Nymph, my sweet said he, the fair and beautiful season hath brought forth this fruit, a stately tree hath nourished it, the radiant and most comfortable sun beams have ripened it, and only good fortune as a thing most choice and perfect, hath hitherto reserved it, the worthiness only appertaining to you as to a creature most excellent. Ill had I been disposed to suffer so fair a fruit by falling on the hard ground to have been bruised, foiled, or otherwise trod under feet, or perished. The apple of gold was erst on Venus bestowed for the prize of her beauty, and that by a shepherd, and I likewise guarding my beasts, have found this apple, comparable to that in show, wherewith to present my Chloe, who ma●…chest her in favour, In this case am I Paris and thou the self Venus.  
The lass appeased with these delightsome speeches, assented quickly with her Daphnis to be at atonement, and he throwing the apple into her lap, she only gave him a lovers kiss, wherewith the well pleased goteheard held himself contented.  
In these continued pastances, the often wished and longed for Autumn did now draw on apace, and a messenger from the master of Lamon was already approached, to inform them shortly of their lords coming, the bruit of spoil done by the Methimnians on the grounds thereabouts was cause thereof, and to that end was delivered their master intended to survey the harm by them committed. It was now no need to appoint the old Lamon to his business, who careful of himself to see all things well, endeavoured so to provide that no one jot might in the least respect be amiss: Daphnis likewise took in charge neatly to pick and crimme his herds, and orderly each day to see them fed on the best and most fruitful pastures, to the intent the heard being mighty and fat, they might have the more thanks for their travel, and be the better reputed of at their masters coming. It was unto him a matter of great novel, to think what manner of man should be his master, so much as the name of whom till that time he never before had heard.  
Lamon for his part began to pass throughout all the hearbers, the vines, the fruits, and the berries, those boughs he tricked, those knobs he pared, those branches he slipped, and them in another place cut down and cropped. The show of this place was a thing of most excellent pleasure, as well of the situation, prospec●…s, plenty and variety of devices, as also for diversity of trees, and all kinds of fruits. To this had Lamon of all others a most special regard, wherein his careful insight and continual travail had wrought so great perfection, as seemed to be held a thing rare and wonderful. The trees hung yet laden with all kind of fruits, plums, apples, pears, mirtes, granades, oranges, lemons, figs, olives, and twenty other pleasing conceits. Besides the number whereof, the order yet curiosity and brave disposition of every thing was such, as a man would have thought it a paradise, and deeply have sorrowed to forethink that the least spoil in the world should have happened unto it.  
The messenger having seen all things in a readiness prepared, returned to the City again to advertise his Lord of the estate of the same, who not being unrewarded of the poor Lamon and Mirtale, they only desired his good word in setting forth the manner of that he saw, to their greater commendation, the messenger omitted nothing to him in charge given, but having asserteined what he came for, waited only the time of his masters readiness.  
In this mean while of the return made of the servant to his master, after all this ●…ost bestowed and travail taken of poor Lamon, happened a foul and cruel mischance, the event of which made all the house sorrowful, and them now only to fear the coming of him thither, whom before they earnestly looked and most instantly desired, the case standing as it did, upon a dreadful hazard of their utter undoing, the occasion of all which ensued in form following. There was near thereabouts dwelling to them a cowherd, a stubborn and a knurleheaded knave, whose name was Lap●…s, who being of Chloe to-fore time exceedingly enamoured, and seeing that by a convention between Dryas and Lamon, he was prevented of his purpose, and hope to obtainé her in marriage, grew thereby into so cruel and presumptuous a conceit of doing unto him some one or other notable mischief, as that he endeavoured nothing so much as to seek occasion, how, and by what mea●…es to be re●…enged.  
He was well wary that the dependency of this marriage consisted solely on the favour and good opinion to be by them received from their master, whereinto if it were possible, that he could devise by the committing of some o●…e or other notable villainy, to work a breach, twenty to one he thought, that ill must needs betide them, and the marriage in haud should never be brought in question. This wild and mischievous imagination in some sort to effect, the villain advised himself of this beautiful plot, the trimming and decking whereof had now of long time being attended, brought the same to a most exceeding perfection, besides the devices thereof being every wai●… (as they were) most excellent, had made the master of Lamon to be of all things about his house the most in love with it. hereupon as the thing that on all sides might turn them to most displeasure the cruel and wretched Lapes desired to be most revenged. Wherefore spying a time convenient, one night when all about the house were universally at rest: this false and villainous churl, wound himself secretly into the garden, and there moiled and spoiled, with hooks, with hatchets, and other cutting instruments, the most part of the hedgerows, vines, fruits, and trees of all the hearberie and garden▪ which being done he returned himself secretly again, without being perceived of any man.  
Lamon, the next morning early, entering into his garden with intent to surview and trick what he might in the least jot see thereabout amiss, perceived the spoil and notable misusance every where done unto it, and not knowing from whence it came, but moved exceedingly with the despite & villainy thereof, as the only thing of all others that his master loved, looked for no other relief at all, but to be beaten to death or hanged. Wherefore overcome as he was with great grief, he tore his garment from his shoulders, and thereupon skritched and cried most lamentably.  
Myrtale hearing the clamour, left what was in her hand, and ran in all haste unto him. Daph●…is also which even then had but led his beasts to the field, moved with great lamentation, returned back again unto them. And seeing this great disgrace most vile and detestable havoc and wrack done and committed on all parts of the hearberie, it could not but greatly become unto them a matter most sorrowful, for to say the truth, were a man thereunto but a mere stranger, he could not but have deeply grieved to see the malicious and caussesse spoil of so fair and pleasant a dwelling, the parts yet untouched whereof, for all the disorder therein committed, carried notwithstanding some manner demonstration of the beauty of the other. The grievousness of the sight made them all to shed tears abundant, for their undoing stood upon it, Lamon one while for himself, and an other while for Daphnis exceedingly weeped. During the continuance of which discomfort, Eudrome the page and messenger, that before had been with them, from their Master was returned again, declaring, that after three days passed, their old Master intended to be there present, but their young Master his son would come thither the morrow.  
Preparation heere-uppon ensued on all sides, and now the monstruousness of the evil done did trouble them more and more. But Eudrome being of his own disposition, a youth of very good nature, they devised amongst themselves for to call him also to council about this enterprise. The case being made known unto him, Eudrome seeing their excessive sorrow and moan made, recomforted them, and advised as most meet, that the matter were first made known unto their young Master, whom he assured unto them to be of loving and most kind condition, and that upon their submission made, he would not stick so far forth to pity them, as that by his good and favourable conceit, some one thing or other for redress might there be the better provided.  
Lamon not withstanding was not yet idle, but slipped and cropped the hanging boughs and twigs round about the garden, he did what he could by all the art and cunning he had, to make the havoc seem less, insomuch as by his diligent looking too, and attendance, he had reasonably amended the matter in divers places. Their yo●…ng Master according unto appointment came the next day, whose name was Astile, and with him brought to accompany him for his disport, a parasitical gester, whose name was Gnatho. The gentleman was yet very young, upon whose chin the tender down had scarcely crept, and therewithal of most gentle and friendly condition: be was no sooner entered the grounds, but Lamon & Myrtale his wife together with young Daphnis fell prostrate at his feet, desiring his favour and forgiveness, and that being campassionate upon the old years of his bondman, he would endeavour so far as he might, to withdraw his father's rage and displeasure from them.  
Astile rued the miserable complaint, and the better to relieve them, out of their wonted distresses and sorrows, he promised, that at his father's coming, he would endeavour to make some prea●…ye excuse of the matter, and for to take the cavie and choice occasion thereof wholly upon himself. They thankfully heere-uppon took his agreement, and endeavouring by all the means possible to cont●…nt him, both Lamon and Daphnis, with diverse notable presents did afterwards entertain him, they prayed God also in respect of their disability, that it would please him of his goodness to requi●…e him.  
Now Gnatho this parasite being a right belly-god, a villain by nature, and one that loved none, but where he might be fed, nor cared for any, but only for his profit, seeing the sweet and natural favour of this young Daphnis, began as an unnatural beast, so against nature become wanton over him. The paunch-filled rascal, seeing that Astile was a brave young gentleman, took pleasure in hunting, and to haunt the fields abroad with his hawks and spaniels, devised from time to time sundry shifts, whereby to rid himself of his company. And in these spaces would he haunt the herds of young Daphnis, & one while hearing him sound his flute, and another while sing, thought there was no felicity in the world so great, as to be accompanied with his pleasure. The wretch moving to the goatheard many questions, & perceiving his simplicity and unacquainted disposition to villainous purposes, one time by watching his doings and comings would have found means in forcible manner to abuse him. But the in●…inuat condition by nature and his former birth, planted in the imbold●…ed spirits of the young youth, with a manner of sweltering kind of disdain▪ shook the rascal off, and that so tudelie, as his pampered drunken carcase squatted against the ground with the peasant and unwieldy burden thereof.  
The parasitical tricker perceiving the unmollified spirit of the brave goatheard, and weighing there withal the manner of his unexpected colour and courage, such as seldom falleth in those that by nature are borne to be slaves, thought that in his nativity the stars and planets were unto him too sinister, in that unto a mind & favour so correspondent, they yielded an estate & condition so mightily different. Nevertheless though in so forcible manner he dared no more to affaie the youth, yet for all that withdrew he not from him his sensual & beastly disposition, but considering that the lad was but the son of Lamon reputed, & therefore thought as a 〈◊〉 to belong unto his lord, he deemed with himself to practise another devise more colourable, whereby when time should serve, he might the easter attain●… to that his wretched and most abominable desi●…e.  
This could he not immediately bring to pass, for that the old man with his wife, children and family were now all arrived at this his country dwelling. In the first two days after whose arrival, there was nothing but feasting and banqueting, Dionysophanes was the old man's name, and Clearista his wife. After than that he had rep●…sed himself by the space of two days, he then began to visit his herberies, his gardens, walks, and other 〈◊〉 and pleasant devices, in all which he found no fault at all, save only the spoil which before you heard of, which young Astile had ere this to him execused and taken the matter upon himself, where with Dionysophanes held himself contented. Then walked he forwards to see the herds and flocks, at the sight of which company of so many strangers, Chloe ●…ashfull on a sudden, and being in the fields, as she that had never been accustomed to their view, stole away secretly, and hid herself in the 〈◊〉, but Daphnis stood still awaiting their coming. Lamon then pointing out unto his master his goats and sheep that so daintily had been fe●… and increased, added further unto him, that the youth standing by was his goateheard, who by his diligent care and attendance had thither to conducted them.  
Dionysophanes and Clearista beholding the excellent favour and sweet gestures of the youth, who furnished in every condition as a heardseman, and having a fair large skin of a he goat, smoothly dressed with the hair fastened unto his neck, and hanging over his shoulders, thought that there appeared in him a kind of beauty, more commendable far, than customably was to be seen in every other shepherd. Daphnis began to make unto them music upon his flute, and with divers and excellent lays and ditties of the sheepeards' ●…o entertain them, all which of the company generally, but Clearista especially, was in him both rewarded, liked, and highly commended, beside commanded she him, and likewise Dionysophanes his Master expres●…y enioyne●… him, not to be absent from the house during their abode and continuance in the country, but always there to attend them.  
All this unto the vile and beastly conceit of Gnatho, di●…de but add fire unto the flame, who being wholly dedicated unto luxury and his belly, was not able to contain himself within l●…mits, but taketh Astile on a time a tone side, and thus c●…utelously, the better to accomplish his purpose delivereth unto him. I have (Sir) heretofore never in my life yielded appetite or liking to any thing so much, as to quaffing company, and abundance of feeding, but now is my mind changed therefrom, and since I saw this fresh young goateheard playing on his pipe so melodiously as he doth, me thinks than the sole and sweet pleasure thereof, there is no delight in the world. Now Sir, albeit he be the son of your father's villain, yet surely respecting the seemly favours he beareth: for estranged in show from so simple a proportion, me thinks you might do very well to crave him of your father, and to take him from these herds to dwell with you at home in the city. Astile hearkened hereunto, and thought it not amiss, and only attended, but time convenient to move his father thereof. This speech by Eudrome the page, being overheard, who knew the 〈◊〉 delights of this parasite ges●…er, and marked since their coming thither this continual fawning and pursuit of the gentle Daphnis, and how many exercises there withal he tendered, that he would procure his freedom, thought this fair weather was not all for nought, and therefore speeding himself to Lamon and Myrtale (as one compassionate of the youth's misfortune, if the way in question should be taken) he revealed unto them both the practice, and also what of the event thereof, not without good cause he had conjectured.  
The poor old man surcharged now, with far greater griefs than ever before he was pestered, for that the loss of his life could not have been more miserable unto him than the sorrow of this mischief, saw that the disguise of this youth in sending his son, should●… now without speedy prevention, become mea●…e to make him the beastly prey and spoil (under pretext of bringing him to the service of Astile) to a base, vile, ser●…ile, and gorbellied drunkard. This thought the poor man, rather to die than to suffer: wherefore resolving himself to reveal (if need compelled) what he was, that the worthiness of his birth might the sooner free him from such intolerable servage, he only 〈◊〉 but for the opportunity when Astile should beg him of his father, which being by the continual suggestion of Gna●…o the ●…ext day put in practice. The simple bondman standing forth, fell prostrate immediately at his lords feet, and embracing straightly his knees besought him to have compassion of his humble suit and petition then to be made unto him. Dionysophanes willed him to speak▪ and then taking Daphnis by the hand. Clearista present, and the most part else of the family, Lamon thereupon said: I am not (sir) discontented, that it is your good pleasure, and my young L. Astile here, to take from me this young youth out of these country labours, to attend, and there to remain with him in the city, for so might it thereby happen, that a worthy and noble Master, might also enjoy of him by this means, a free and noble servant, but that by pretext thereof, and under colour to draw him hence to an other place, whereby in most vile and insufferable manner to abuse the worthiness of his shape against nature, only by notice, that he is the son of a bondslave, and bred of my loins, and that namely also to bec●…me a vessel to hi●… 〈◊〉, eue●… the gross villainy of this parasitical gester: this Gnatho here present, who upon a beastly and 〈◊〉 conceit to accomplish the same, hath only suggested this motion, that can I never suffer. Wherefore (Sir) that the better it may appe●…re unto your knowledge, how unfit it is, that so great and not co●…monlye accustomed feature and comeliness, should in so vile and bad manner be misprized: understand I beseech you, that this young and brave youth here present is not my son (as it hath been supposed) nor is the baseness of our condition able to produce so excellent a creature: but being now●… eighteen years since I found him laid forth in pastures ●…enderly 〈◊〉 within a small thicket, whereunto o●…e of my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to my great astonishment ordinarily resorted to su●…ke it, n●…ither am I able to say how, or by whose hands it came there▪ but this know I, that the descent thereof can not be mean, resp●…cting the costly attire, 〈◊〉, ●…nd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I found about it, all which I have hithe●… to whol●… and e●…tirely preserved, by the co●…iecture whereof you may the better d●…eme of his parentage, and how 〈◊〉 it is, that so gentle 〈◊〉 nature should become the subject and spoil of so base and serui●…e 〈◊〉 condition.  
Lamon had 〈◊〉 scarce shut his lips vppo●… these speeches, but that Gnatho enraged at these his sharp peercing ●…auntes ●…nd enforcements used against him, closed strait ways with his words, and threatened, that ere long he would for this be thoroughly revenged on him. Dionysophanes for his pa●…te was amazed at the accident, and charging his bondman, in 〈◊〉 vehement and hard speeches thereof to deliue●… 〈◊〉 truth. L●…mon▪ further added, and swore by the immortal gods, by Pan, and the Nymphs, that herein he had ●…ot lied one word, and to the end to make clear the matter, caused his wife Myrtale to bring forth the attire, the mantle, and jewels, and there showed them in his presence.  
Dionysophanes having heard these last speeches of Lamon together with his attentive countenance & ●…arnest protestation, looked upon G●…atho with an aspect austere and grim, as one love with thy brother indifferently. And in the parting of my possessions between you, I will that this house, these lands, the movables here in my herds, flocks, servants, and all things else thereunto belonging, do remain and continue unto thee. Daphnis at the repetition of these last words, not suffering his father to speak forth the rest, start up quickly on a sudden, and there with O Nymphs, said he, my herds have not all this while been watered, and I stand here still a doing nothing. The company hereat fell a laughing, to see that the remembrance of that wherein so long he had been trained, could not yet make him forget what he had to do when he was wont to be a servant. But they advertised unto him that the care of his goats belonged now unto another, and that he needed not to trouble his thoughts therewith any longer. Chloe all this while being filled with the▪ brute of Daphnis and his new acknowledgement of his parents, did nothing else but grieve and lament to see the bad success (as she deemed) of their loves, for thinking that Daphnis being now advanced to rich parentage, would not any more regard or account of her, he could but sigh and wail, accusing herself to have given more confidence to his othsworne by his goats than to that he had made before to the Nymphs. Lapes therefore, who for despite and wreak of the love of Daphnis then made to her, had spoiled in the night time, and marred the workmanship of Lamon as you heard before, perceiving now that the state of Daphnis might tend to other effect, began to devise to steal the shepherdess by force, and for that purpose accompanied with a number of r●…de rakell fellows, encountered with her one morning as she was drining her ●…ocks, and offering violence unto her she skritched aloud▪ the sound of her voice came first to Nape, and after to Drias and from him to Daphnis: but the yoonge goteheard conferring n●…we the state and reputation of his friends, durst not be acknown publicly of the action, but called forth some of the house, to whom he gave special direction to aid and assist Dryas.  
Gnatho, who had ever since his villainy discovered, hide himself from all company, having notice of the direction, thought with himself that now was the time wherein occasion was offered him to be reconciled to Daphnis, and putting himself forth in the press, as he that intended to be a guide unto them in that action, they encountered Lapes by their haste, and the residue of his clowns that now were even ready to have conveyed away the Nymph, and buckling hereupon togethers, with hard strokes on either sides, Dryas and his company in the end had the best, and rescuing Chloe again lambs kind the rude lobkins welfavoredlie.  
Gnatho supposing that he had behaved himself reasonable manly in this enterprise, challenged the honour of the conquest into his hands, whereof he now thought to make a grateful present unto his young master Dryas, was not therewith miscontented, but accompanied them both to Daphnis, where being come, Gnatho made offer of the brave Nymph into his hands, humbly submitting himself therewithal at his feet, and prayed him of pardon for his misd●…meanors passed, and that he might again be restored by his means to the former entertainment that in his father's house he woontedlie received.  
Daphnis gladded inwardly at the sight of his Chloe, accepted his service, and embracing her many times, he was in mind to have committed her again to Dryas, with great desire that their loves might be kept secret. But Dryas utterly denied that, but rather deliberating to make the matter plain, seeing the other was already by fortune made known to his parents, took Chloe again for that instant, and the next morning leading her with him to the house of Dionysophanes, & desiring at the hands of him and his wife a little attentive hearing, he made known unto them the finding of Chloe, her education, her putting to the charge of keeping of flocks in the pastures, the vision to him and Lamon appearing touching the disposition of their fosterlings, Daphnis putting also to the field, the mutual society of him and Chloe there begun, continued and concluded upon after in marriage, and therewithal prayed that the Nymph by change and alteration of the state of Daphnis might not now be despised: and to the intent that they might the better stand assured of her parentage, he showed also the call, mantle, slippers and other attire and jewels that he found with her: and those with her, recommended e●…tsoones to their patronage, love, care, and common defence.  
Dionysophanes and Clearista beholding the beautiful and seemly parts of the shepherdess, and weighing also, that by like ensigns and badges as theirs, she had been laid forth, concluded the likelihood thereof with their own intendments, and the rather in respect of those testimonies which showed in some sort, the reckoning of her parents, and as king also of Daphnis his willingness therein, they accepted her immediately as their daughter in law, and confirmed the liking, wherewith before he had received her as his wife.  
Time wearing out the period of every determinat purpose and resolution, made Dionysophanes & his wife to think themselves sufficiently by this time recreated with the pleasure of the count●…ie: wherefore appareling Chsoe after the manner of the city, and as beseemed their daughter, they jointly with all their whole household removed, and came back again to Meteline, but first in recompense of the painful travel of both these aged herdsmen, Dionysophanes rewarded Lamon with his freedom, and besides gave him afterwards wherewith to live richly: to Dryas also of his bounty he gave three hundred crowns more than those he had before, and a gown furred, and other apparel both for winter and summer. To Nape, and e●…peciallie to Myrtale Clearista was not unthankful, both she and Lamon, beside greatly rejoicing in their old age to have obtained their f●…eedome.  
Now grew there to be a wonder at their arrival in Metelene upon this strange kind of accident, by means of which, diverse of the worthiest of the city and their wives visited Dionysophanes to know the manner and truth of the same: among all the rest that were there to participate this novel, one Megacles a wealthy noble citizen, hearing the recount of the ●…ding and knowledge of Daphnis made by Dionysophan●…▪ sighing deeply in his mind, began at a sudden to weep very tenderly, and being earnestly of the assistants demanded the occasion thereof, he said: It is now about sixteen years since, that by reason of my great charge bestowed in travel, and sundry losses happened unto me by seas, I had then a daughter borne unto me by my wife Rhode, and forsomuch as my estate was at that instaut so weak, as made me in great hazard how I might recover my losses and fortune again, and yielded me also some despair how, or by what means I might afterwards live having so many children: in great agony of mind I took the infant and gave it in like manner as thou Dionysophanes to one of my servants, with apparel, jewels, and other things about it, and willed him, in some convenient place to bestow the same, recommending it thereby to the protection and guidance of some better hap. My children then had, are since all of them dead, my wealth nevertheless not any ways diminished, but rather increased, but ah my greatest unkindness to that infant, hath now bereft me of any child at all, and there is none to inherit the possessions and goods I leave behind me. The recordation hereof (Dionysophanes) reported by a new relation and delivery of thy good hap in recovering thy son, together with the manner of thy departing from him so justly agreeing in every thing with mine, maketh me only in this to accuse my ill hap, that can not also in the self occasion attain the event and fortune of other men, and lamenting the untimely miscarrying of her (whom then I deemed some one or other being without child might happily find, and take to their guidance, but now do expect utterly to be destroyed) do wish to continue for her sake the residue of my life in perpetual sorrow and heaviness.  
This pitiful discourse of the old Megacles, bred in the mind of all the company an extreme sadness, wherefore, as well on a sudden to alter the dumb conceit thereof, as otherwise to manifest unto them all, a double occasion of his gladness: this aged Dionysophanes first brought forth to Megacles the ornaments found with Chloe (herself hitherto remaining unspoken of, and unseen, but altogether in secret) and thereof demanded of Megacles if he had any knowledge, affirming, that in the recovery of his son, such manner of things also came to his hands. But Megacles well knowing and remembering the tokens of the same, fell hereby into a greater extremity than before, thinking, that he by this might well be assured, that his daughter could not now otherwise choose but be dead, and that some herdsman of the field had by chance taken up these things, and brought them also to Dionysophanes together with Daphnis. Dionysophanes seeing hereby, that it was not requisite unto the intendment of a joyful mee●…ing long time in this sort to dally, began then with sweet words to comfort this Megacles, and assured him, that his daughter was living, and therewith presenting unto the view of all the company, the mere divine and exquisite proportion indeed of very Beauty itself, harboured in the amiable looks of this fair and excellent Chloe, he made known also to their hearing the whole manner of her continuance even to her present finding.  
Megacles not sufficiently able upon a sudden to digest his joys, straightly embraced the Nymph, and being also informed of the marriage intended to the celebrated between her and Daphnis, desired no better alliance. And in sign how well and worthily he deemed of the match, he freely there gave and bestowed upon her, to her present advancement, the inheritance of all his lands, wealth, and possessions whatsoever, only reserved unto those that so charily had unto that estate conducted her, such liberal rewards and presents, as to the reputation of his person, and the benefit at that instant received, might seem most agreeing and correspondent.  
The citizens all thereabouts, commending highly the rare and wonderful accomplishments of these two noble creatures, extolled the indifferency of the match, and prayed Himenaeus to give unto them, a happy, fruitful, and gladsome continuance: whereby were finished in most honourable, and sumptuous manner, to the rejoicing of all the beholders, the final determination of all these pastoral amours.   
FINIS.