THE ENGLISH ARCADIA, Alluding his beginning from Sir Philip Sydney's ending.  
By jaruis Markham.  
LONDON. Printed by Edward Allde, and are to be sold by Henry Rocket, at his shop under Saint Mildred's Church in the Poultry 1607.   

To the Reader.  
THe innumerable tortures wherewith severe censures will torment and whip me, their pews, their pyshes, their wry looks, Apish gestures, and untunable pronuntiations, have not so much retained me any time this halfscore years from the publication of this moral History, as the imputations of arrogancy imitation, affectation, and even absurd ignorance, which I ever feared Envy would unjustly lay upon me: but having by custom, and the weakness of detraction loosed myself from such shadowy fetters, and with a more airy spirit freed my soul from such insubstantial fears, I have adventured to cast into the world this Orphan, which however it was once begot by noble parents, and bosomed in the most celestial ears that ever was worthy to retain noble mysteries, is now like a vagabond enforced to beg, and live upon miserable charity: yet for virtues sake, whom I ever desire to satisfy with my best powers, before I, be arraigned at the bar of bitterness, I am willing to make this defence for the crimes which cruelty may suggest against me. First for the Title, though it be only excellent in the most excellent creature that first taught us the sound of excellent writing, yet hath it likewise been used by others in sundry pamphlets, without either pride or ostentation, men taking liberty to lay their histories in Countries by them most affected: next for mine allusion and imitation, which beareth a colour of much greater vainglory: mine excuse must only be the worthiness of former precedents, as Virgil from Homer, Ariosto from Baiardo, famous Spencer from renowned Chaucer, and I with as good privilege, from the only to be admired Sir Philip Sidney, whose like, though never age hath or shall present to memory, yet shall it be renown to the meanest that endeavour to live by the crumbs of his Table: who were our age but blest with his living breath, he would himself confess the honey he drew both from Heliodorus, and Diana. For other faults I must answer with Master France, if there were a bond to compel men to read, there should then be an authority likewise, to bind us that writ, to delight: But since both have free will, my counsel is to read no longer then till your appetite be either cloyed, or filled, and so by preservation of your stomachs, make them apt to taste others better labours: to which, and to your own content I commit you.  
I. M.   

THE FIRST PART OF THE FIRST BOOK of the Moral English Arcadia, alluding his beginning from Sir Philip Sidneyes ending.  
AT such time as the flowers appearing upon the earth, had summoned the airy choristers to entertain the first Ambassadors of the Spring, and that Nature (delivered from the barren womb of Winter) had showed herself lively as the morning, fair as the nights Governess, pure as the Sun, and as almighty as an army of invincible fortune: The unhappy and forlorn Shepherd Credulo being come to the foot of the mountain Tagetus, from whose large distributed skirts, ran an even and well leviled plain, through which the siluer-flowing Erimanthus had made many curious and interchangeable windings, till she delivered the abundance of her tribute into the bosom of the Ocean's unruly treasury: and being arrived at the utmost of the earth's prospect, he encountered with his companion (both in fortunes and desires) the forsaken Carino, whose eyes (long before that time drowned in their own tears) were now over early awaked to bathe themselves in the tearye sea of others more dear afflictions: And being met in that alone loneliness (which extremest of all miseries had chosen out as a platform whereon to build that day a stage for an immortal Tragedy) they sat down, & casting their eyes upon the waves (whose vast solitariness presented to their minds the lively Ideas of their unaccompanied lamentations) began bitterly to complain, that having overloaded hearts, broke & divided with complaints (which by incessant bemoanings they sought hourly to disburden) found neither ease nor respite, but rather a more augmentation of their continual childbearing mischiefs: whereupon Credulo commenting in the sadness of his countenance, more large volumes of grief than his weak tongue could deliver, thus spoke:  
Ah Carino (said he) hither are we come to behold not the last act (though as bleedingly piteous as the latest can be) of Infortune's worst Tragedy, presented to the stony eyes of creatures insensible, because barbarous: and acted by the greatest Beauty that ever before this day arose in the sky of any woman's countenance: Alas that misery should be so Imperious, as to dare to take possession in the Palace of Virtue; or virtue so fearful, as for any disaster in-fortune, to forego the habitation of Beauty: Will the Almighty justice in his Divine providence create excellent frames to ignoble uses? or Nature spend the golden treasure of her workmanship, in a receptacle for greatest imperfections? It is impossible, it is impossible!  
The Arts-masters of this low rounds nations, strive in their works exquisite, to portrait their own virtues; the best of which endeavours remain after them, living remembrances of dead worthiness: And shall the master of them, and their knowledges, make his goodliest pyramed, a monument for unblushing shamefulness? it is too preposterous to imagine, and irreligious to believe; only to thee and me (whose care-consumed imaginations direct all their levels against the mark of misfortunes, as having our hopes given over into the hands of Disdain, our vows inrespected; our loves fruitless, our torments pitiless, & our deaths Tomblesse) to us I say these accidents of inhuman adversity, are but awaking thunders, or Night-raven cries to our labouring remembrances, drawing in them and before them, the models of those mishaps wherewith our own souls are attainted. How oft have thou and I (my Carino) from the top of yond Mountain sent our eyes with the embassage of our hearts, conveying in blood-drawing sighs, (speedy messengers of despair) the occurrents of our dying hopes? How oft upon this Plain have we in dark Eglogues discoursed the pure intent of our honest services? How oft upon these Sands have we wrtten her name with our Sheephookes, which the jealous Sea in love with, hath greedily snatched into his bosom? And how oft from yond aspiring Rock have we wished (so she would bear witness to our wish) to fall headlong into the Sea, as a seal to the great deed of our enduring affection, and yet have found neither hope in our desires, comfort in our loves, nor end in our despairs? Have we at any time desisted from the violence of our first passion? Hath there ever been seen coolness in the burning Fever of our desires? Have our minds slept at all in the shade of a reputed oblivion? Or hath the History of her praises at any time found an end in our speeches? the gods forbid. O Cynthia, Cynthia, our Fields Garland, our Winter's spring, our Sommets shade, our Harvests fruit, and the living cause of all Creatures happy livings be thine eyes the witnesses of our vows, and our own deeds the test moneys of our faiths: be thine admiration as great as our loves, for our loves shallbe as boundless as the infinite world of thy perfections: Continue the miracle of time, as thou art the wonder amongst women; that when Envy after this day shall boast Queen Helen of Corinth was virtue, yet thy virtue succeeding all ages, may still engraft (in remembrance) an enduring and unblotted excellence.  
Hear an extreme violence to speak much in the praises of divine Cynthia (whom with equal ardour they both most sincerely adored) over came the power of much speaking, and with dumb Oratory converted his language to dumbness; whilst Carino thus replied.  
What needs (my Credulo said he) this indictment against the hope of our contentment, whose desperate resolution long since hath pleaded guilty before the greatest judge of our Fortunes? To reckon our cares, were to number the stars: to measure our loves, were to make a circle greater than the greatest either is or can be: and to unlade our affectionate desires, were by spoonfuls to convey the Sea into some contrary Channel: what they are we feel, and when they shall determine, the allseeing allthinges only hath knowledge: as easy can the Sun be removed from his diurnal passage, as our thoughts from her remembrance, or our hearts from the love of her virtues: Have not we succeeded both in our loves and admirations, the truly loving Strephon and Claius whose enduring constancies, & forlorn indurances, heaved their Urania beyond the degree of superlative? And is there likelihood we will either seek the abridgement of our woes (which is the badge of our sufferance) or the end of our love (which is the heaven of our cogitations) no, no my Credulo, it was Virtue that brought forth wonder, wonder knowledge, knowledge love, and love the eternity of our never to be slain affection: Be then the world by us filled full of the praises of divine Cynthia, and every Mother's child taught to adore the Star can lead to so heavenly perfections. But whether are we carried with the force of her remembrance, and the violence of our own duties? arose we thus early for this? came we to complain to the Ocean for this? wet we our un-dride cheeks with new tears for this? or are our moans senseless to all bemoanings but this only? Indeed as every place is for ornament beholding to this subject; so is this subject indebted to every place for a grateful relenting, and enticing acceptance. But we came as I remember, to remember that being the Vassals, & bondslaves to Beauty; we own some rent of grief to the overthrow of a rare Beauty. Ah Helen, fair Helen, unhappily happy in thy fairness, who having all the possible means of allurements in thy perfections, findest nothing but impossibilities in attaining the meanest of thy wishes! thou art unhappy, thou art unhappy.  
And as he would have further pursued the agony of his passion, which even then Credulo was ready to second with an host of most bleeding arguments; they were both interrupted with an extraordinary noise (full of terror & amazement) which to the first apprehension, they imagined to be a peal of Thunder, running post before the violence of an ensuing storm: But more considerately beholding the marble clearness of the well disposed sky; and attentively hearing the continuance of the former rumour; they found the error of that conceit; whereupon comparing with the survey of their eyes, (cast upon every adjoined object) the hollowness of the sound, and hard distinguishment of the clamours, both which gave testimony of a far coming exclamation: they cast their sights to the Seaward, even so far as the division of the air would give limit to their seeing; and at the furthest end of that prospect, they might perceive like a small dusky cloud rising from the water, which by little and little creeping more near the level of their judgements, they saw increase both in quantity & affright to their eyes (unaccustomed to such spectacles) for as if jove and Neptune had been in combat for their birthrights, either striving with the predominant qualities of his kingdom to annoy each others habitation; so might one see through the clouds-thicknes, flames of fire dancing upon the waters, and immediately mountains of water rise up to sport with those fires: there was to be seen by the eye of imagination, a combat without weapons, yet many times weapons and no combat: a fear without danger, yet more danger than fear could comprehend: at last what with the help of the winds, which coming from the Seaward, blew directly (with a recoiling force) against the shore, they might plainly discern a Galley & a Gallioon, like an Elephant and a Serpent grappled together in an austere and revengeful contention; the fury of the fight augmenting with the continuance of the fight, as if strength were to be-gotten by strokes, or freshness by weariness; so powerful were the hands of those actors, and so pure the spirits which then commanded the use of such hands: But amongst the rest, and above all that then were without rest, they might perceive two, in whom as it seemed a vindicative resolution, had made them the wrathful ministers of an inexpiable malice: so the manner of exercising, attested an incomparable virtue both in the dexterity of their valours, and in the unamazed pursuit of their revenges satisfaction: for as it seemed, they two contended against all, or all sought the overthrow of those two: many hands being erected against one head; and yet many heads cut off by one hand. This fight continued in the view of the Shepherds by the space of two hours, with no less terror to them (who armed with so spacious a distance as might give assurance from any assailement, had notwithstanding through their eyes received the wound of fear upon their hearts) then repentant sorrow in those that underwent the revenge of so haughty courages: But by and by they saw the Ships which till then had as it were kissed one an other, & hung together by an unfriendly & boisterous embracement, dissever themselves, & the Galley, what with the force of her Oars, and a little help of a quarter wind which breathed upon her Sails, made her way directly forth into the Sea, with such eagerness of speed, as many times we see a Pirate when he hath in chase a rich and well laden home-returning Merchant; but contrary to that, the Gallyoon with all the canvas she could put forth, boar before the wind as even upon the shore as might be imagined, yet might they still behold (as long as the virtue of their sights could hold the knowledge of any object) one of the forenoted Champions in the Galley, not only continue, but in more mortal and desperate manner; continue the unspeakable bloodiness of the first combat, till the length or distance had deprived their eyes of that spectacle: The other in the Gallioon with no less but rather a more inauspitious hand of death over his encounterers, by how much more near he grew unto the judgements of the beholders, augmented both his own rage, & their opinions touching the excellency of his rage; distributing such unresistaable blows, that his sword was seen seldom or never fall with his hand, but a body divided from a soul fell dead at his foot; so that as it was most likely to be imagined the poor in-habitants of that vessel, grown to the desperate wilfulness of absolute desperatenes (which is by death to shun death) wilfully ran the ship against the Rocks, whose armed breast of too high proof for so slender timber, split her in one instant into many thousand disjoined pieces; the surviving remnant more willingly offering up their lives into the hands of the merciless Sea, whose mercy they had not tasted; then to the subjection of his sword, whose vigour in punishing their breathless companions bodies, in their floating witnessed. But neither did the daring of their despairs (which was the unexpected entrance to this evil, neither the danger itself (wherein the preciousness of his dear life was imballanced) neither the inacquaintance of the soil whereon he was shipwrecked, neither his many wounds, the loss of Fortune, Hope, Honour, Wealth, or other expectation breed in him either amazement, fear, or desistance from the continuance of that revenge, which from the beginning he with so great virtue pursued; for being now left to struggle with the unruly waves, whose imperious billows (many times counter-checking his desires) gave him a feeling remembrance of his mortal constitution, he gathered new life, by the hazard wherewith the old life stood endangered: and swimming with such beautiful comeliness as Triton is feigned to do, when he ushers Neptune to Venus' banquets, with his sword in his hand, which often ensigne-like he flourished about his head, as who should say, Danger is but the handmaid to Virtue, or as if he would have challenged more perils than those, imputing the escape of this no worthy reputation; without turning his eye back upon his own safety, he followed on still the ruin of those to whom was left no comfort but in ruinous perishing, and made such slaughter, that not a breathing soul was left to complain, that so many by one were become breathless; But he had no sooner finished the effect of what he hoped for: And Fury (wanting a subject whereon to work more fury) had given place to the feeling of other passions, when instantly his over-laboured body grew weak and ablelesse to deliver him a living soul, made free from those perils; yet with an unyielding virtue that was ever (or ever seemed to be) strongest in his weakest fortune, he many times mounted up himself, and sprang upon the waves, joining both Art & courage together as means for his deliverance. But even at the last pinch, when strength had as it were finished the need of strength, unkindly strength forsook him, and he sunk down, unable any longer to preserve that life, which still then had preserved the life and estate of many kingdoms: but the guilty waters (ashamed to be guilty of so execrable a murder) opened their bosoms, & brought him up again into the air, where by the force of the siege of the Sea he was borne upon the sands, and lay to the judgement of the Shepherds (who till then upon their knees, were adoting him as a celestial deity) breathless and without motion, insomuch that with all their powers they ran and recovered him ere the siege could come again, which as appeared, greedy of another embracement, made more than usual haste to overtake him: and when dangerless they had laid him upon a neighbour bank unto the shore, they beheld a person of so rare and unmarchable proportion (in whom all the beauties of the world were most liberally disiested) that prodigal Nature in the work seemed utterly to have beggared herself, and becomed penurious to all succeeding ages: It was not long before they had brought him to life and the knowledge of the danger whereunto his life was engaged; when suddenly he start upon his feet, and gazing like a wounded Deer upon his concealed persecutor, he cried; O Thamastus, Thamastus, livest thou with men or Angels? unhappy that I am, shall I live to inquire if thou live? I will not, I will not, my breath is not mine own if thou be breathless, nor shall my days be augmented an hour after thy destruction, forsaken Pyrophylus, dejected Pyrophylus: with that he wilfully would have thrown himself into the Sea again, as in love with the peril which he hated, or the death which with such difficulty he escaped. But the amorous Shepherds hearing him name those two names, which kept the world both in awe and admiration, ran hastily unto him, and folding him in their arms, with the uttermost of their force, (which the love of those names had stretched to the highest scale of their puissance) stayed him from the unnatural selfe-killing combat; and with the best oratory that the simplicity of their bringing up could then instruct their tongues, they persuaded him from impoverishing the world of those excellent hopes which his very presence promised in most admirable abundance: and conjuring him by those two rarely beloved and praiseworthy names, (which with such feeling sorrow he hat uttered, and all the Nations of the world with unspeakable reverence entertained) not to let that day be registered in misfortunes calendar, as the day of greatest misfortune, by the loss of so divine an expectation; assuring him by those especial tokens which they had noted during the conflict, that if his friend whom he bewailed, were that unconquered spirit which in the galley had done such matchless feats of chivalry; that then there was no fear of his perishing, inasmuch as they had seen him make himself Lord of the Galley, ere the wind or Oars had carried her beyond the compass of their sights. Further they humbly upon their knees besought him, that if he were either of those two Princes, whose sweet names were resweetned by his utterance, that it would please him not to conceal it from their knowledges, who all be they were but Shepherds, yet had that virtuous feeling of nobleness, which taught them a serviceable duty to the incomparable greatness of such dignified states, The Prince Pyrophylus (for such was his name) a little pacified, and hoping by this hope in their speeches to kill his hopeless Despair, was content to be overruled; though many times the fervency of his love had almost overcomed that not certainly grounded resolution: in the end, calling to mind that their fight was both begun and occasioned upon the Hellespont, and that this place was altogether beyond the bound of his knowledge, fearing the Sestian law, which for the loss of the two faithful lovers Hero and Leander, adjudged present death to the approach of any neighbour-bordering stranger; and not forgetting the contract betwixt him and Thamastus, that they should never be known where ever they were disjoined; answered the Shepherds, that how ever they might mistake his utterance, or his utterance beguile the intent of his own meaning, it was so that he was called Adunatus, Prince of Iberia, who from the beginning of his first knowledge, had held in singular admiration the memory of Thamastus Prince of Rhodes, and Pyrophilus Prince of Macedon; so that if he had spoke of them, it was but like a dreaming man, whose brain from the superfluity of his thoughts apprehends divers remote and far distant imaginations; but for his own part, at that instant he said, he was both careless and worthless, and worthy to be so unworthily careless, sith his fortune had lost him that rich blessing, which in any but the self same thing, could by no Fortune be again restored; and therewithal desired to know of them, upon what coast he was ship-wracked, to the intent he might make the spediest search was possible to recover the great loss he had sustained: to which the Shepherds replied, that the Country in which he now was, was called Laconia, a Province in Peloponessus, adjoining to the Frontiers of Arcadia; which having been long time governed (all be with many insurrections, and rebellious commotions) by the renowned Basilius, was after his disease, by the power of his testament (and as a man fit to curb so unruly a generation) given to the noble and famous Amphyalus, his sister's son: a man so excellently seasoned with the salt of all virtuous understanding, that excepting the hope of Thamastus and Pyrophylus he stood in the eye of the world unmatch-able and beyond comparison; Pirophylus hearing them name Amphyalus (whom he had ever respectfully reverenced for the rariety of his perfections) demanded where he kept his Court, and how long he had hung his easeful armour by the walls to meditate more safely upon the actions of other Nations? They answered, that his Court was abandoned, desolate, and forsaken of all, in whom grief by the greatness of his birthright challeng'de not a feesimple inheritance, and for the place of his residence, it had been unknown to his subjects by the space of these three years, at what time he departed thence with as great a burden of insupportable discontentment, as Atlas or Olympus with their jointlesse shoulders could stand under; the reason whereof being (though many times suspiciously conjectured) never sufficiently understood or daringly entered into by any divining or all-knowing judgement, was (they said) now at last (but heaven knows how long they will last, which calls such excellency to the last account of life-lasting) both known, censured, and to many iniudiciall ears maliciously delivered, to the disgrace of the world's best beauty, & the destruction of a most famous queen, ever till then wondered for a wonderful unblemished reputation, even Helen Queen of Corinth, that harmless fair, and fair harmless hurt creature, a Lady of a mighty humbleness and an infinite mightiness; virtuously alluring, because she was virtuous, and that virtue married to an ever-adored beauty; Of a majesty fit for such greatness, and a gracefulness answerable to a pure wisdom: in truth such she was, as such they should be that have so great perfections as such a celestial Helen;  
This name of Helen, thunderstruck Pirophylus, and as if his passion had had a metamorphosing deity, stone-like he stood without sense or motion, till reason the ensign of the soul's holiness called back his spirits to their usual attendance, and he earnestly besought the Shepherds aswell for the bettering of his knowledge (to whose taste he ever coveted to present the nourishing milk of discourse) as for a burning ardour he had to make his fortune the releif-master to a forlorn and & distressed Ladies afflictions, to unfold unto him even from accident to accident all that had befallen to that most beautiful Queen of Corinth, of whom though in the coolness of his entreaties he gave no show either of familiarity or acquaintance (as indeed there was not, having never in their lives seen one the other) yet almost from there childhoods they had married one to another a virtuous opinion of honourable estimation; being by alliance of blood nearly conjoyed together, but especially and above all for the near nearness both of affinity and love, twixt her and Melidora, the only Goddess, to whose feet he laid all the sacrifices of his sword's honour or duty. Carino who ever more and more gathered out of the rareness of his carriage, and sweet disposure of his gestures, a height or exaltation of honour beyond the comprehensive conceit of his understanding, both to be found dutiful to his cammandements, and to beget a further continuance of so wished a presence (after the Prince by the suns aid which then shined hotly against the rocks, had both dried his apparel, and refreshed his half drowned spirits) thus set the key of his bermonious tongue in tune, to tell the utmost of his knowledges.  
Although (most excellent Prince said he) from the cloudy darkness of our little knowing remembrances, can arise no expectfull matter of memorable consequence, the quality of our obscured estates depriving us the mean whereby Princes affairs should be unfolded unto so unworthy ears, as well because the weakness of our judgements cannot look into the causes of their fortunes, as the insufficency of our counsels that can prevent no effect of fortune (how adverse soever) proceeding from those causes; yet inasmuch as the world's rumour is many times retained for an Oracle, and the liberal tongue of Fame will in the most respectless ears cover the world's public counsels; I will declare unto your excellent wisdom what the envenomed instrument of Envies tongue to all this whole nation most bitterly hath declared.  
At such time as the noble Amphyalus (who being loves true prisoner) kept imprisoned the truest love, and the truest beauty that ever had power to command love, I mean the incomparable Princesses Pamela, & Phyloclea, with the Macedonian Pyrocles, at that time the Amazonian Zelmane had got the absolute understanding of his mother's flint-hearted cruelty against those immortal Paragons of the world, to whom he had even slaved the subjection of his divine soul, & saw by the Characters of their misfortunes, the desperate evil whereunto the loathsomeness of his life (grown ugly with the deformed disdain which had mangled his thoughts in pieces) would headlong convey the wretcednes of his hopes, & when he had with a selfe-killing hand made that sword wherewith he had overthrown so many King's conquerors, and invincible Giants, give a deadly assault unto the bosom of his heart's Cabinet, seeking by untimely death to ruinated that glorious work of Nature, wherein the excellency of the first workmaster had showed the best power of his arts working; This beautiful Queen of Corinth (of whose dolours my brain is now even great in labour withal) hearing not of that but of another most dangerous wound he had received in a former combat betwixt him and the excellent Musidorus; after a tedious and weary journey (wherein only love took away the bitter feeling of weariness) she arrived in those parts of Arcadia, with assured hope of his recovery by means of a most excellent Surgeon whom then in her country she retained; But in such an inauspitious hour of unluckines, that finding the fear of danger, taken from the danger she feared; there was now an inrecoverable peril wedded to a desperate fearfulness; for the foe was his own hand, and that hand guided by so hopeless a love, that hating all things which the love he loved would not pity, he himself had used against himself that violence, which else no violence could have used: In brief when she came to his presence, she found him bathing in his own selfe-spilling blood; and if not absolutely dead, yet so near the confines of deaths Kingdom, that not the severest judgement could say or hope he lived. To describe the lively sorrow which ascending from her dying heart appeared in the watery Sunshine of her eyes; how oft she swooned, revived, and again and again re-dyed; what bloode-wasting sighs she uttered, what groans she disburdened, how lamentably she bewailed, how desperately she raged, the war betwixt her fair hands and her bosom, betwixt her torn hairs and the winds motion, her tears burning in the beauty of her cheeks, and her beauty drowned in the Channel of her teary Ocean: her confusion, in sorrow making an uniformity is heaviness, yet that heavy uniform, a barbarous Chaos of misery: to describe this, I say, were labour infinite and innecessarie, the rather sith it stands in a memorial by the most memorable pen that ever recorded matter worthy of memory: But at last when sorrow had as it were (in the judgement of all her beholders) called to so strait an account all the sorrows of her remembrance, that there was no other matter left save only sorrow in her imaginations, and that so full of imperious command, as it was high treason against her soul, to think it was not eternal: even than the eye of wisdom (cleared by those afflicting clouds which muffled her affections) began to discover the error in her forgetful passions; her weeping making her neglect the means should bring her to not weeping; and her complaints drawing on a certain end to work in her endless complain; whereupon turning from the dead reputed coarse, that her returning might add more violent extremity to her compassionate languishment; and a little depriving her eyes the blessedness of their sights, that with the same sight they might be more divinely endeared; she humbly threw herself at the feet of those Princes, whose heavy eyes not without abundant tears were spectators of that immortally bemoaned tragedy, but especially she converted all her speeches to the world, contemning Anaxius, a man whose self-loving opinion had drawn into him a belief of impossible achievements, and to him she declared the old age of her tedious despised love; the unremovable constancy of her confident affection; and the world-wondring end her sorrow would consummate as soon as her hopes were deprived the bliss of their expectation, ever and anon mingling amongst her compassionate bemoanings, such an entire adoration to the name of Anaxius, preferring it before Angels, and recording it first of all in the mighty enrolment of Godheades; that he whose blindness could apprehend nothing but his own greatness, grew now great with child of imaginary divinity: and though for the death of Amphyalus he had vowed a detestation of all women, yet in love with his own glory, he was content (with a deformed smile) to commend her, that thereby he might back again call to mind his own commendations; and swore by himself (for greater than himself, his great heart would never acknowledge) that the royal humour of her greatness, gave her an excellent inspection, and a determinate mean of well judging the singularity of others perfections: but yet he who had never accustomed himself to condescend to any desire of virtue, because his Religion was grounded upon this heresy, that honour was got by contradiction, and greatness most seated by a particular denial of a general entreaty, notwithstanding all the dartie Lances of her well tempted Oratory, would have utterly withstood her suit (which was only to have the conveyance of the body of Amphyalus into her own country) had not his two brothers, called Zoilus and Lycurgus, (to whom ambitious Nature had not been full out so prodigal, though by a great deal too much, much too liberal in the same humour of ostentation) taken a more lively taste of bitterness from her tears, and joined in the approbation of her reasonable demand, drawing the strength of their arguments from this ground, that sith he was a desperate forsaken patient, whom no Physician or Surgeon in those parts, durst in the least hope give a light of surviving, if any other part there were an insearchable skill unrevealed, it was necessary to approve it, because nothing could draw the danger to a greater height than it was already raised: beside they boasted what honour it would be to them, to conduct the dead body to the bordering skirts of Basilius army (which of necessity they must do) as it were in despite without either controlment or damage, to the intents they purposed; This last speech (though the other availed) found a more insinuating acceptance in the Sunne-scalding aim of Anaxius, so that he agreed to all her desires, giving her leave to embalm the body with such preservatives, as for that purpose she had brought with her: and told her, that as well for the virtues he found in her (of which himself could better judge then any other creature) as for a careful hope he had of his friends recovery, she should have that day not only her wish, but also a God (meaning himself) to be her sanctuary defendant; and one who would in such safety conduct her through the tents of his enemies; that to her well seeing judgement should appear the terror of his greatness. The comfortless Lady to whom the want of comfort served as a comfortable companion, taught by her grief a politic carriage in grief, soothed up his vanities by amplifying upon his vain grounds, and with hearty humbleness offered to kiss his hand as a testimony of the assurance she reposed in his magnanimity.  
All things being prepared fit for so great a solemnity, Anaxius and his train attending on the hearse; and the fair Queen Helen, issued in a most solemn & tragic manner from the Castle of Amphialus, and so conducted her to the banks of the swift-falling river Ladon, without either impeachment or disturbance: where after many confused showers of uncontrollable tears, seeming as if they would join with the river to overflow and drown the neighbour plains. Anaxius and his brothers Zoilus and Lycurgus, took their leaves of the Queen, and the dead reputed Amphyalus, and so returned back to the place from whence they were departed.  
The Queen left alone to accompany her dead Lord, (saving that she had only twenty horsemen, and six Ladies which had been her gardiants in that woeful voyage) commanded the coffin to be set down upon a fair bank of flowers by the rivers side, and then taking her Lute, to the delicacy of whose sound she married a more delicate voice, sung this funeral Sonnet.  

Strong heart, my strong cares unconsumed throne,  
How big thou swellst with ever feeding grief,  
I hoped that worn to nothing with my moan,  
Nothing to nothing would have brought relief.  
And you mine eyes that envy these fair streams,  
Because they flow not over like your tears,  
Learn by this river to abate extremes,  
Sith coolest woes breed longest lived despairs.  
But O mine Eyes you have immortal springs,  
Fed by a heart which feeds upon distress,  
And thou my heart art wed to sorrowing,  
Sorrow, that sorrows-selfe cannot express.  
Then heart grieve still, and Eyes augment your founttaines,  
Till one make Seas, the other cloud-hie Mountains.   
Here casting the Lute from her hands, that she might cast her hands with more feeling ardency about the beloved body, which with such unspeakable adoration she had enshrined in the fair Temple of her spotless heart, After my unsympathised embracements and cold kisses taken from his unfeeling lips, she thus began to second her well tuned moans with vntuned lamentations.  
Alas Amphyalus (said she) alas, thou that in the infiniteness of thine unbounded Disdain, hast had such an immortal sovereignty as to be the all only director both of my thoughts and actions: how much mightier had been the amplified honour of thy royal spirit, if the great Godhead of thy divinity, had proceeded from a graceful pity, to the gnawing torrent of my miserable distress? But I was unworthy, and woe is me that thy worthiness did not esteem me a worthy subject to be ennobled by thy loves worthiness; yet was I not fatal to the long lived kingdom of thy virtues; thou shouldst not have brought a consuming fire from Corinth, nor should my womb have delivered a firebrand to waste Arcadia, O yes I was prodigious to thy birthright: and as a blazing star at thine unlooked for funeral; For me (though not from me) came that first knowledge of thy first evil, when thy dear Phyloxenus end became the beginning of thy hate to my desires, & Tymotheus death a Seal to that revers-lesse deed of thy disdain, which no time or opinion shall ever cancel; O unspeakable misery! O marvelous doom of my fore-doomed persecution! O most wonderful impiety of a hapless beauty! O singular affliction to an ever afflicting memory! and O just judgement of my star-crossed destiny! O sorrow, just sorrow, be thou henceforth the justness of my mediation! O fearful sorrow in the extremity of my fearfulness increase my sorrows augmentation, and let me sorrow, that ever sorrowing, my sorrows are not amplified to a sufficient greatness: But why talk I of sorrow that am not worthy of so gentle a sleepe-killing companion? O rest thee thou fair foe to my rest; thou weeping eye of a soft heart; thou revenge of weakness; unkindness satisfaction, and the key which unlocks the closet of a concealed affection! O image of sleep, sleep with my forgetfulness, and forgotten contentments; And come Death, ugly Death, untimely Death, the rack to a burdened conscience, the soul's bitterness; the body's grave, and the minds immortal affliction; come thou and accompany my calamities, lead me to my Lord, that he may behold in thee his Lordship over me: there is no reason I live, being reasonless left of the love I adored. And here as if she would have drowned herself in new tears, or proved that the greatness of grief is ever begot by the greatest expense of grief; she wept in such violent abundance, that the extremity of that overflow, brought her to a motionless dumbness, insomuch that one of her Ladies, whose eye had taken a full draft from that cup of pathetical grief, taking the fallen Lute into her hand, awakened her Queen with these mournful Stanzies.  

Night like a mourner creeps upon moans,  
Yet troubles me because it lets me see,  
The black faced image of my hideous groans  
Which still unstill increase to martyr me.  
O eyeless night the portraiture of death,  
Noise hating mistress of the hearts calm grief,  
That charmest our cares, and quiettest our breath,  
O thou that art calamities relief  
In thy downe-footed stealing, steal away  
Woes memory, approaching with the day.   

O not thou night the Sun set follower,  
The general closer of all mortal eyes:  
O thou art not my sad hearts sucoorer,  
Even thee I waste and tire with agonies.  
But thou eternal night Death's elder borne,  
Thou night of nights more powerful than the Sun,  
Throw mountains on me that am most forlorn:  
Most abject hapless, woeful, and undone;  
O let my woes be into darkness hurled,  
Or placed a burning Comet o'er the world.   
This song did so aggravate the extremity of her passion, which now like an over-wittie Sophister (whose fluent brain presents him more arguments than his tongue can discharge, ever most in love with that which lies last unrevealed) was conceited that she could utter more wounding lamentations than she yet had uttered, began to create new methods of complaining, till she was interrupted by a discrete Gentleman her attendant, who persuaded her from that weariness of mourning, chief where no ease-procuring sorrow made the laboursome day eternal with vain labour, and brought no night of rest, to her so long unrested diliberations, arguing that these delays in her moans, would if she would continue them, bring her anguish to a more desperate state of misery, the necessity of this extremity, craving no spurs but wings to convey her hope to the end of that rare art, wherein all her hope was builded. This speech laid such hold upon her reason, that adorning her fair cheeks with the rosy blush of shamefastness, she rose up, and commanded the coffin to be put into the litter in which herself road, and so followed on her journey; yet at every such convenient hour, wherein either the relief of Nature, or the extremity of the hot burning Sun commanded a desistance from travailing; she omitted not still to do the like, lest any over-curious eye should imagine, that the travel of her mind received ease, when her body wanted motion; observing the humour of an absolute covetous person, whose desires grow greater when he enjoys the greatest part of that he desired. After many days & nights (allbe days and nights were not by her distinguished with any difference) thus piteously consumed, she arrived near unto her own most goodly and beautiful City, the City of Corinth, whither news of her approaching was some few days before comed, (as heaviness hath ever more Fames than one running before it) insomuch that Phalantus a gallant Knight, and base brother to the Queen, at that time, and in her absence commanding (as her Vicegerent) with the absolute authority of her Sceptre; desirous to give her that entertainment which might be most suitable to those lamentable delights whereunto was contracted all the thoughts of her understanding; gathered together the old remembrances of his own former disquieted happiness, (when the Varnish of Artesias beauty blearing his eyes, made him imagine his heart was wounded with an army of Lances) & caused these nourishing shows of displeasure pleasingly to be presented unto her; first in her passage over the river Tegea (which runs some two leagues from the City) as soon as she was entered into her Barge, and launched from the shore; with the artificial noise of sundry vessels (prepared for the purpose) there arose to her imagination, a strong and fierce storm, with such dreadful claps of thunder and lightning, that to an unwel-apprehending sense, Art might seem not to borrow, but to lend much to the divinity of Nature's perfection. After these foregoers of amazement, followed a tempestuous shower of rain, which as if juno had been at a new entreaty with Aeolus, and offered not Diope but Helen herself for his Paramour, was so violently carried with the seeming powers of many winds, that the Bargemen who had the conduct of the Queen, all be they were agents in these devised extremities, yet seeing the effect of the work go so far beyond the effects of their knowledges, grew forgetfully astonished, and began to lay down their Oars, and cry to be delivered from that fear which themselves had created to show the power of fearfulness. Never till now did the solitary Queen cast up her eyes, or in the least change of countenance give notice she had noted their proceed; but with the constantness of her sorrow taught them that the picture of true woe, was by no Idea to be taken; yet whether stirred by their (to no purpose) exclamations, or imagining their stay a sign of her arrival on the other side, and that they cried out but only to companion her bemoanings she arising, looked forth, but saw all the air so smothered up in an unnatural perfumed mist, (wherein all delicate odours had with such an atonement symbolizd themselves together, to make a perfit use of absolute sweetness) that it bred in her a delightful wonder, with a respective carelessness, so that she cast her sight about her with a more steadfast inquiry to behold the event of the stratagem; when the vapour a little clearing, yet not so much that any brightness of the day might from the inamaled forehead of the heavens be perceived, she saw or seemed to see directly upon the shore before her, the model of an ancient Castle, the curious frame of whose building by reason of the fog could not be well discovered, only as it was most likely either from some hic erected window, or from the top of some well raised Tower she might behold a burning Lamp, that with his oft in and out appearing, sometimes violently flaming, and immediately dampt, and deprived for a long space of his shining, showed the implacable war of two contrary conjoined Elements; and the madness of that storm, tyrannising over so little a spot of inflammation: But as she fixed her sight thereupon, suddenly a wrestling in the waters close by her Barges side, invited her eyes to a nearer object, and she saw swimming upon the waves in most amiable gracefulness, and with such an artful dexterity as gave an ornament to the silver liquid, a most beautiful and fair young man; close at whose heels followed the Sea-god Neptune, with his Trident in one hand, and in the other, small remnants of innumerable treasures, which he carried as figures of that inestimable abundance, which is concealed in the bottomless womb of the Ocean's darkness; and with them, as it were, wooed the lovely youth, whose mind borne upon the wings of contrary affections, conveyed him with an inrespective motion from the presence of the God; often times in shrieks, crying, O Hero, Hero, I have tardy arms and slow forces, unworthy attendants for so sweet a beauty, at which the God with a mourning piteousness dived down into the deep, and was no more discerned. At this the care-wasted Queen apprehended the device, and presently called to memory that first story of love which ever in writing was bequeathed to memory of the infortunate Hero and Leander: but with such greediness, that allbe she knew it was a devise begotten to delight her passion, yet forgot that either it was devised, or that her passion should delight in such sorrowfulness; wherefore as if it had been the substance of that shadow it presented, she gave it such a memorable entertainment as in despite of reason she broke forth into these weep.  
O excellent Hero (said she) that hadst triumph in thy love, virtue in thy faith, admire in thy constancy, & in thy death a most blessed, blessed martyrdom: thou wert unhappy in thy too much happiness, & happy in the worst end of thy sour fortune; thou didst infinitely love, and wert much more infinitely affected, so that if thou didst ever sigh, it was because thou couldst not love beyond infiniteness: how contrary am I to the state of thy proceed, whose love is bondage, whose faith respectless, constanciesse avail, & death (by a remoteness) too obstinately helpless; thy Leander loved that he might be disdained; mine disdained because he desired to be hated: thine swum a Hellespont to enjoy thee; mine an Ocean to be removed from me: thine made a perfect work, ere an imperfect ending; mine overthrew all labour, because in the end should be no perfection. O Amphyalus, Amphyalus, if ever those entombed eyes had power to heave up the coffins which incloud their brightness, make clear those sweet circles, and look with pity if not with love, upon piteous Leander, see how he ploughs the waters to reap a foreign desired harvest, whilst thou hast a greater riches falling upon thy bosom! see how he mourns for the slowness of his bliss, whilst I cry out at the swiftness of my misery! O Fortune how dost thou averse the countenance of thy favour, and in the atrocity of my mishaps, buildest the glory of thy Kingdom: when wilt thou bring back thine aspective mildness, and let me see again those halcyon days of calmness, which in my first age I enjoyed? O unbegotten entreaty, thou art as far from effect, as I from reason, and both shall never meet with our wishes. And having thus said she fell to a new manner of old lamenting; when the only eye imagined storm (imitating a tragic disposition to make the last act the extremest) broke into an instant violence, his companion darkness, which ever runs before him, having put on the worst habit of his worst countenance: so that as if the clouds had been rend in pieces with thunder, the air burnt to cinders with lightning, and the earth thirsted to have been drowned in an other Ducallidon, all things were put into a confused amazement; during which outrage, the lamp was seen to be put out with the winds, and sundry most lamentable shrieks to follow the departure; as if it had been the Idea of some soul's happiness, when presently after the heavens cleared, the waters calmed, the winds ceased, and a Serene mildness was disperse over all the continent, at what time the Queen with her careful charge of cares arrived at the foot of the former discerned Castle, whose stateliness in building, though it consisted of the weakest state of continuance; yet was so shadowed with the best of Arts invention, that the first apprehension of the eye would have adjudged it at an inestimable value, like the most curious portraiture of Venus, laid upon an otherwise despised board, or a remnant of useless Canvas. As soon as she had set her foot upon the shore, which was no sooner than the coffin could be discharged of the Barge, there might she see upon the sands, Leander drowned, and Hero lamenting over him, in her Nunne-like and virgin-stained apparel; who with all the impossible passions of an impossible to be appeased fury, acted with such lively tremor, the worst desperateness of a decayed fortune: that Helen stood as much amazed to behold her, as grieved to see so much woe in a counterfeit discontentment; and in her amazement looked first upon Hero, then upon herself; after upon Leander, lastly upon Amphyalus, and thus many times sent her looks to and fro posting without intermission, every look bringing her back matter of more mourning; in the end bowing down her heavenly countenance, she said, if there were an end in woe, it were nothing to be woe begun: but being eternal, it is a sad Deity; and with that passed forward on upon her journey. But she was not gone half a league further upon the sands, ere she saw a Nymph running before her, whose hairs being loosed, partly by the winds, but chief by the violence of her tyrannous white hands, followed after her in such a dispersed length, that if at any time she stood still, they seemed to kiss the base earth in the falling, or cover it in the golden riches of their beauty; as if she would make that barren mould to be esteemed before any other element; her neck was naked, only a costly Rebat of flowers, (half lose) hung fallingly upon her shoulders; her garments which were of a Sea-coloured silk, curiously embroidered with a Minataurian Labyrinth, were in many places torn, but so as every eye might see the disgrace was begot more through a wilful madness, then either a negligent carelessness, or a wantfull neediness; thus as she ran, she sometimes threw her arms from her, as if she would beat away the winds that flew wanton about her; sometimes drew them back, and locked them in together, as if she would embrace or hold the air from fleeting; and sometimes linking her ivory fingers one within another, raise them above her head to the Sky-ward, as if with that gesture she would call pity from the heavens. And with these passionate motions filled the eyes of her beholders, till come within the compass of their ears hearing, they might more plainly understand her dolours, which with a burden of teary sighs made evermore their conclusion with the name of Theseus, accusing him of flinty hardness in not relenting; of unkindness in not loving; of tyranny, in not pitying; of falsehood in dissembling; and of ingratenes in just deserts unrewarding. By this the Queen perceived it was forsaken Aryadne, left to the world by unjust Theseus, in the memory of whose mishaps (as in an excellent mirror) she saw the lively image of her woefulness; whereupon she stayed with wonder, and wondered with pity at that which in herself she could neither pity nor wonder at: and as she stood in this unaccustomed pause with teare-filled eyes, she saw old Sylenus upon his lazy Ass, either in a dead sleepiness, or a drunken deadness, come ambling with such an expectation of falling, that his untoward motions, which in others bred a laughing scornfulness; in her sad Lady stirred up a remorsive fearfulness; after him and about him went a troop of satires piping, and dancing; with bautrickes of ivy, and Garlands of Poppy about them: then came in couplettes a multitude of Bacchanals crowned with swelling Grapes, and red Roses; some bearing in their hands carousing Cans, some Myrtle boughs, some burning Tapers, and some downy Cowches of Mossy softness; altogether like wild: Goats, running and dancing with such measureless preportions, that it was not offensive to say it was barbarous; yet was it so orderly befitting the actions of such persons, that it showed there was a prescript form in unnatural rudeness. After all these came the youthful God Bacchus, drawn by four snowwhite Hearts, and two savage Boros, in a Vinetree chariot, covered & invecked with clusters of ripe grapes, and fair smelling flowers. They marched directly towards Aryadne, insomuch that Helen grew afraid, lest their rudeness should add mislike to the lost-Ladies sadness, till she saw Bacchus with a divine carefulness take her up into his chariot, and bear her from her view, as she supposed towards the heavens; so that she cried, O happy Gnossian Aryadne, that thy woes hast found a deity to eternize thy woefulness: shine ever in the heavens, and be thou ever my Sun that I may see no light but thy memory: Many such like moans she uttered in the continuance of her journey, being ever & anon encountered with such like devices, one seconding another so swiftly that they left her no time to ruminat of any one precisely which to recount to your alreadie-wearied hearing, would but lengthen my too-ill music and over-poise with trouble your attention; therefore I will omit the story of Pyramus and Thysbie; of Phyllis and Demophoon, and many other records of foregoing ages.  
Helen being now comed almost within the view of the city Phalautus, mounted upon a most fair Neapolitan Courser, & accompanied with an hundred knights, besides Esquires, and base attendants, in a most solemn and stately manner, met her upon the way; and having (when she had less cause to make much of melancholy) made trial of her resolution in misery, omitted all manner of ceremonious persuasions, and only gave her that entertainment which stood most agreeable with her distemperature, adding tears to tears, sighs to sighs, and outcries to lamentations having learned all this Philosophy, that to soothe Melancholy, is to take away Melancholy, and not to contradict the humour, is to give it knowledge of the error in the humour. After him came all the Magistrates and chief Burghers of the city, whose low looks and unpleasant gestures, gave assurance, that where the best part is diseased, there the under-serving members must of necessity pine in a languishing weakness. And thus they marched in a sad triumphantnesse, like an o'ercoming host, that vanquishing many, by the loss of one particular, is notwithstanding subject to a subdued heaviness. Now when she was comed to the port of the City, and was ready to enter in, she was there met with all the Damsels and virgins thereof, who attired Nymph-like in lose silks, which the breath of eve ie air wanton carried, and moved about them, with baskets of Roses, and the most choice smelling flowers which that clime afforded, upon their arms; strewing all the Streets through which the Queen should pass, the outside of the houses thereof being that day appareled, either in Tissue, cloth of Gold, Velvet, or rich Arras, as if the richness of such clothing, should either hide from her the woefulness which for her woes was concealed within them; or that making a Sabbath for her home-come, every one triumphed in his wedding garment. And as the Virgins passed thus along, some with Timbrils, some with Kyttes and some other new invented Instruments, to which they accorded the heavy accents of their most sorrowful voices, they sang this mournful and Elegiac passion:  

O Tedious hours that overtake swift time,  
And in the end bringst back our wished for cares,  
By which as by a circle we may climb,  
Unto the endless height of our despairs:  
Add to our grieves, great ages of Lament,  
Lorne in ourselves, and loathed of content.   

Thou elder brother to the first of all,  
Whom men consume, but never can make less,  
Thou smiling aim crier at Princes fall,  
Father of death, husband of heaviness;  
Add to our grieves, great ages of lament,  
Lorne in ourselves, and loathed of content.   

For since there is no hope in our restore,  
But like thy minutes so our moans must rise,  
And put to most this multiplying more,  
Woe on woes fall as tear on tears from eyes  
Add to our grieves, great ages of lament,  
Lorne in ourselves, and loathed of content.   

And when the world shall blame, thy cruel mind,  
That heaps affliction where Afflictions ●well,  
Say long-lived Sorrow men do seldom find,  
And lest we may a flowery pleasure smell:  
Add to our grieves great ages of lament,  
Lorne in ourselves, and loathed of content.   

Say Passion, Humour, Fashion, and Despite,  
Beguile the eye of Sorrow with false tears,  
To which that men and Angels may do right,  
By scorning them that shadows only bears:  
Add to our grieves immortal lived lament,  
Lorne in ourselves, and loathed of content.   
This infinite consort consisting of all the innumerable parts of true sorrow, like a River-swallowing Behemoth, drank up the universal tears of the world, so that the spectators of this egregious lamentation, adjudged this City nothing else but a vast, sad, and disconsolate Trophonius, whose entrance urged even the eye of delight to a relenting tearfulnesse; so that even to such (if such in such a place could be) as had no feeling of the cause of this felt woe, yet the touch thereof in the effects of others participated a sympathized wailing to their rocky senselessness; and the more when they more earnestly beheld, in whom and from whom the greatest part, (or rather the whole, which to others lent part, yet like the Sun had no part less of that in which she triumphed) was as from a goodly Fountain derived: But in the end, when she was brought in this mourner-like royalty to her palace, which was a most goodly Castle, very defensively fortified, and curiously built of rich Marble, in the very heart of the City.  
After many thanks (interrupted with many tears) both to Phalantus for his care of her, and to the rest, for the sufferance of her folly, through which she got the knowledge of their loves: she with the dying Amphyalus, betwixt whom and death was almost sealed the deed of perpetuity, withdrew herself, and was no more seen in public, so the space of forty days: during all which time, she bequeathed the desperate case of her loves Lord, into the hands of the skilful Physician: A man of such age & decrepidnesse, that even his life acknowledged a loathsomeness in her habitation, and Nature whom the hand of Art by mending regenerated, with a malicious envy languished her continuance, being bettered by that which for her slave she created. He was by birth an Arabian, and well trained in the use of letters, whose near alliance with the Sun inspiring him with a spritie humour of ambitious knowledge, led him to delight in travel, and the taste of unexperienced customs; to that coming upon a day to the mount Ida, he met with a Nymph belonging to the fount Gaballine of whom being inquisitive to know the manners of that place, he got the knowledge of the learned. Well of the habitation of the Mules, and the court of memory yet unsatisfied and wandering further, he came into the grove, where Paris first wooed Oenone, saw where they pitched their toils, where they made their Pitte-falles, where in the heat they lay and mocked the Sun which could not warm them; and in the cool where they bathed, while the Sun with his gentlest heat, did refresh them; and amongst many relics left there for remembrances of their love, he found that heavenly and rare Book, which Apollo when he was over-gone with affection and desire of her beauty, gave her as a monument to eternize her name before many multitudes of admirable women: in it was the portratute of all herbs, plants, Minerals, or what ever belongs to the sacred study of Physic, together with their virtues, compositions, effects, and uses: this he took, for this Oenone had carelessly cast away, when confounded with the burden of care, she was become an outcast in the world, and forlorn of Paris. And hence came those uncurable cures, which in the opinions of men made his name with such unspeakable reverence adored; and this still he practised upon the wounded Amphyalus, with such prosperous serviceableness, that in few days he brought back unto him life, and his servant remembrance; who yet not peace with that life which with former upbraiding he had violently put forward to destruction, began afresh to gall him with new thoughts of that ancient Disdain, wherewith the most excellent Phyloclea had disfigured and overthrown the beauty of his fortune; so that the invisible wound of his soul, tankled and kept open the Ulcer of his body; his new life being an old death worse than the body and the breathless divorcement; which once perceived by this most learned father of science, he immediately applied those Antidotes to his understanding, which drowned all the faculties of his mind in a Lethe of forgetfulness; and he became such an Iris in the mutable exchange of his resolutions, that he had all the colours in the which any passion could be disguised, except that in which the memory of Phyloclea alone was clothed, and that from the Genuine sense of his best thoughts, had such an Anathema, or divided excommunication, that like a Ravens-foster line, cast up into the woods to seek a desolate fortune, he had utterly foregone, and shaked off the memory of her which being the most precious thing in the world, he had made of her a more precious and dear estimation. And now for exchange, both his reason, judgement, and affections, as the Actuaries or setters down of his wills chronicle presented unto him, all the perfections and virtues of the truly loving Hellen. Now he saw in her beauty, which only beautifying itself, beautified all things that to itself was adjoined: An eye that speaking with many tongues of delight, spoke only with the tongue of true affection; A brow wherein dwelling all the Majesties of divine greatness, yet only ruling with one which was the most humblest wisdom. In brief, he now saw (that ever before had he not been will-blind might have better seen) a Lady full of anointed royalty; royalty exceeded in beauty; beauty in virtue; virtue in wisdom; and wisdom in the excellent providence of her general carriage: insomuch that as his wound healed, his heart festered; and as his life strengthened, so the love of that life weakened: even now fear and shame seized tyrannously upon him, fear; lest his deserts should call in account the punishment of his life: and shame, that he had no Apology to defend him from the disdain he feared Fear, and Shame; Deserts, and Disdain, like a quadruple evil, or a torment in four parts, racked thus his mind almost to the height of desperateness; which no sooner perceived by her, whose want of pity had framed all her thoughts in the pitifulst mould of mercy, but instant relief, upon such worthy & honourable conditions, as might suit with the severest respect of virtue, gave him that life of contentment, which even angels themselves celebrat as the best thing belonging to our creation. Excellent & worthy Sir, for my country brought-up tongue, to ascribe to itself words matchable with the height of those incomparable joys which in either of these two great ones was universally bestowed, through the blessed conjunction of their divine match, were arrogance and weakness; because in their humours, and passions, they as far go beyond the levels of our capacities, as in their estates, honours, and heroical promotions: only let it suffice me to say, Amphyalus at last with a worthy love enjoyed the nobly loving Helen, the triumph at whose coronation and wedding gained such a Superlative commendations in the praises of all tongues, that I know there is no worthy ear utterly void of the knowledge, the rather, since all Grece is still & ever willbe in labour with the deliverance of those wonders. Immediately after this triumphant marriage, Basilius died, & Amphyalus, with his Q. came into this country of Laconia, whose crown he challenged & possessed by his uncles testament; but whether the nature of the country, which ever have been ominous to the Princes thereof, or the star-crossed destiny of her poor Lady (to whom even destiny was deholden for the patiented endurance of her affliction) were the nefarius & bloody conspirators of her untimely and abortive evil, I know not: but sooth then this there is nothing more credible that they had not continued together many years, ere the cinders of old discontentment (which whether stirred up by his flatterers, or enkindled by his spies, those Emissaries & canker worms of a peaceful continuance) broke into a prodigious eruption, or main fire of displeasure in his before best-seeming to be contented mind; the particularities whereof; cannot capitulate against, because they be mysteries concealed from our knowledges, only some two years ago, when the blessedness of his presence made us forget the miseries would follow his absence, & least fearing what most to be feared, came posting upon us, unknown to any but those of his most privatest counsels, he departed from this land, disguised in an armour of unknown metal, which the skilful Arabian his late Physician, by a most unrevealed Art had been many years in making: and for a remembrance given it to Amphyalus, as a jewel of more worth than all the world's treasure: And under whose covert he might compass those conquests, which should outreach the height of possibility. And doubtless if the Erratical tongue of Fame have not taken too great a taste of misreporting, he hath since his departure effected wonders, beyond the wonder of expectation. But he had not been absent many Months, ere the rapture and impostume of our evils broke like a windy Meteor through the bowels of our fortunes, and over all the land (after many night-still mutterings) it was sounded with day-heard exclamations, that Helen was turned retrograde in her virtues, become dissoyal to her husband, broke her faith with her Love, dishonoured marriage, foiled community, slandered beauty, & was the efficient cause of the living death, wherein Am●hyalus lived eternally exiled. This general defamatory (and as as I hope) libellous report had so many thousand Proselytes, or children of Error, which with winged tongues gave it a free way and a nimble passage, that allbe it Bastardlike knew no father but that Hydra or monster Multitude; tongues accusing tongues, Fame, fame; ears, ears; but no knowledge, no true understanding; yet the love of our King, and such a King of such a divine integrity, meeting with our fear, which for his absence discovered the least peril that any way could threaten our estate with hazard, made Belief become a slave to report, and providence to wade no further than the limits of a restrained fancy: whereupon the sorrowful Queen, whose omnipotent sorrow for her Lord's loss, might either witness her innocence, or have excused the addition of other woes, since not any was more insupportable than that she carried, being attached by Rumour, was indicted by Report, condemned by hearsay, and adjudged by We will have it so; Fear lodging in the eyes of Wisdom, and Affection in judgement. It was bootless to excuse where millions did accuse, and in vain to wish the truth, when had he come clothed in contrary colours, he would never have been believed: in this manner the careful, comfortless, and despised Lady, continued till within these few days, when Opinion (by what means we know not) grown to a stronger (but heaven knows how much better) resolution, called the dying Queen to a public account of her countries overthrow; to which she not able to give other answer then tears, sighs, outcries, and protestations, was forthwith adjudged by a general Edict of all the now greatest rulers in this land, to be brought to this place, and here to be put into a mastless Caruile, which conveyed by a convoy of other ships into the midst of the Euxine Sea, there to restore her to the mercy of the waters, and the predestinate end of her unhappy stars revolutions. This is the day of her exilement; this the execution place of her judgement; & her in this creak lies the Caruile which must carry her to her desirelesse long desired intombment. For this, rise we so early to bemoan her misadventures, and to exclaim against the Sea if it would claim interest in the blood of so superexcellent a beauty. And thus you know what we know: which al-be I deliver Beare-whelpe-like without shape, or perfection, yet may your happy knowledge form it in some Angel-mould of blessed fortune; and to make you more assured of my reports trunes, if I be not deceived, yond black cloud which ariseth with increasment from the earth, should be the fatal (& in that unhappy) conductors of the woeful Q. to her miseries miserable ending.  
At these words Pyrophilus suddenly lift up his countenance, and perceived from far a troup of horse, that came posting thitherward, at which sight awakened, Honour began to rouse herself in his spirit, and lifting up the cheerfulness of his heart, he said in himself, O my soul, thou heavenly guest of an earthly mansion, either this day will I make thee a free Citizen amongst the stars, or sending my Fame beyond the stars, pluck Virtue perforce from almighty darkness: O my life, I have little loved thee, yet love thee now dearly, since thou art preserved for so holy, and so worthy an oblation: And this said he departed from the shepherds, with such an amazed violence, as that if his intraunced senses had but the while before slumbered in a swoundine discourse, and now been awakened with some Elixir of his own imaginations, he was carried by himself so far beyond himself, that forgetting the due adieu of common courtesy, he left his virtue to their most severest censure: And running to meet the near-drawing troup, placed himself in that way which of force they must pass; And assoon as the first vancurrer encountered with him face to face, with fair & reverent speeches he demanded of whence the retinue was, what royal person they guarded, and to what end their journey was directed? the other whose clay-bred coldness had no feeling of the heat of honour (& the rather to behold the Prince's foot-going weakness) in respectively without answer would have passed by him, had not the Prince stayed his horse by the headstall of his bridle; at which the incivil Squire, not only with churlish words, but the offer of a blow threatened his own freedom; till the other having ever held himself a stranger to such salutations, & more than angry with his immodest behaviour, enraged, pulled him from his horse with such an infinite power, that he broke his neck in the falling, and sent his soul to tell Pluto what is the true desert for incivility; whilst at the very instant, the most admirable & heroic Pyrophilus mounted upon his slain adversaries horse, and drawing his sword, which he did more to defend his Honour, then to give honour to any of them by his blows, fairly paced towards the rest of the troup, who by this time having seen the death of one of their consorts, all with one touch of discontentment, ran furiously upon the Prince, and assailed him with the greatest power that any way could proceed from their mean greatness: but look how we see a Greyhound when he is environed with a multitude of little Curs, stands with a mild scornfulness, and receives the worst of their assault; in the end checking their audacity with a revengeful deadliness; even so the Prince out of his disdain, received their worst malice, and in requiting of their daring, returned them blows for blows; but of such unequal natures, and of such over heavy substance, that many of their deaths, might have forewarned many of them from like deaths: But rage that was ever blind, and feat which then had so got how to escape from rage; madly lead them on to destruction: so that the ●ay increased, and the Prince found much difficulty in defending himself from their many defyances: partly because he was loath to spill so much weak blood, and partly because he wished a less punishment for an offence of rudeness: But when some small wounds (which for want of care he had received) told him the effect of greater mischief, he banished the remembrance of all mercy, and like a Panther rob of her young ones, lest not of thirty Knights and Squires one breathing soul, to weep his fellows overthrows, so much did eyter wrath or power, or rather a powerful wrath, govern and direct his instant actions; which being finished, he went unto the Coach, and assuring the Governor thereof (who either through care, or fear, or a fearful care, amazedly stood still, yet in seeming ready to run away like a heavy Fowl that often waves his wings ere the air can bear him from the earth) that he should have no hurt, looked in, and beheld in the one end a most comely, grave, and portly Lady, in whom though middle age had chidden from cheeks, the vain boast of youths decaying beauty; yet was her countenance governed with such majestic beams of settled modesty, that all men might read in her eyes a promise of great wisdom; in the other end, two lovely and fair young Gentlewomen, whose attending behaviours showed them to be no other than her attendants: But the shadow of his countenance was no sooner seen within the Coach, when the Lady, First in wonder at his attempt being a stranger, and none to countercheck the strangeness of his attempt, arose, and looking forth, saw her men slain, or so near slain, that there was impossibility in any one's recovery, with a spirit that might well seem to lodge in so noble a breast, she demanded what he was, wherein she had offended, or what triumph he expected from a victored Lady? to which with a high prysed humility, that well the beauty of his condition could both deliver and adorn, he returned this answer.  
Excellent Lady, if the sourness of my fortune in this not rash but defensive action, hath either in your judgement made weak the power of your trust, or given you occasion to grieve at the impoverishment of this poor succour, let the tender of mine enderest service, and the commandment of my sword, so much the better by how much it wades before these slain creatures, in advantage excuse mine error, and be a witness how free my thoughts are from any dishonour to your excellency: but if they were (as be they cannot) the factors of an ill denounced judgement, to engross up mischiefs, either against your sacred life, or the title of your virtue, be their own deserts their ruin, and my sword the justice of an upright heaven; Divine Helen, and sacred Queen of Corinth, for no less I take you, and less beams I do not see in the sky of thy noble gesture: if there be a justice under heaven, or that justice which so long since fled to heaven, may be either discovered by power, or enticed from above by virtue, I have this day inly sworn to mine one soul, to build her upon these plains a new habitation, and for your sake (upon whose integrity I will erect the foundation of mine honour) to cancel the utmost bond of life, or chase away the clouds which pass betwixt the earth and thy reputation; yet Madam, I protest this bloody beginning was no intended Proem of my service, only the rudeness of your attendants, nay, I fear your executioners, who with barbarous blows made answer to a courteous demand, was it that hath dispeopled you and displeased me; for which I with a hearty humbleness, intirelye crave pardon.  
The noble Lady, having in his speech taken most amplified notes of a princely magnanimity; and beholding in the high top-gallant, of his valour, so low a decline to honour absolute weakness, and withal studying upon the error of his conceit, which had mistaken her for Helen Queen of Corinth, loath to lose an opportunity so happily overtaken, And in fear by too sudden a discovery, to hazard that which with an earnest longing she desired, was contented a little (by no denial) to maintain his misbelief, and therefore in this sort replied.  
Worthy Sir, if I fail in the homage due to so seeming a worthiness, let my weak sex, and the ignorance attending me in my weakness, be the excusefull pardon of my faultiness: And the less I pity (though every death is weepe-worthie) the overthrow of these my followers, sith their rude eyes were so bad intelligencers as would not let their hearts understand, that even in your outwardest show, was tokens of more than ordinary presence: yet let me entreat you, and conjure you by all those tenders you have made me of the treasures of your service: first to let me know your birth, fortune, and your hither adventure, and then not to forsake me, till as you found me you leave me again in the hands of other safety.  
To this he made answer, that as concerning his birth (which he coveted to conceal in the bosom of silence) he was borne in Iberia, and though unworthily, yet Prince and heir of that Dominion, his name was Adunatus, the bitterness of whose fortune bore in it such tragic matter of a life foreworne, and wasted with the most unspeakablest misery that ever absolute miser could entitle miserable; as he did not only grieve, but feared to discover to the world the infiniteness of his woes, which (as he was persuaded) went far beyond either comparison, or conjecture of the woefullest estate whatsoever; and therefore most humbly besought her, that he might no further reveal the wretchedness of his mishaps, whose untunefulnesse would but distaste the noble ear of her understanding; lastly, for his adventure thither, he said it was a blessed mischance, and a happy shipwreck, because he hoped that her excellency (of whose wrongs even Gods & Angels stood aggrieved) should from the hand of his danger reap the new enjoyment of her absolute safety, and therefore that she should not need to command his service, but rather study how to employ his service, which all be worthy matter more precious than the dearness of his life commanded him to other far removed adventures, yet for her noble virtues sake he vowed not to departed from her, till her own free will should give a resolute liberty to his other next desired endeavours.  
This princely legacy (said she) is a royal inrichment to the lowest descent of Fortune: But O this world's fashion, this courseship of words, this father accompliment, this honey air, this bond of breath, this coppis hold right of friendship, is no other than the shadows of our bodies, which then at all is not when we most assuredly imagine it is, and I fear me this bequest will be but as the Testament of a living man, which is apt to change with the change of every opinion.  
Think not so Madam (replied he) for you shall not find it so, and with that began to lay protestation upon protestation, vow upon vow, and oath upon oath, knitting them altogether with the bond of an upright Religion; so that the Noble Lady (whose own opinion, like a true speaking Augur, delivered most large Prophecies of his excellent singularities) unwilling any longer to detain him from the knowledge of that whereunto time and her desires must perforce bring him, in plain and sweet framed words, graced with the state of so well settled a countenance, as showed Majesty to be the birthright inheritance of a royal descent, told him wherein he had mistaken her, and that she was not as he supposed Helen Queen of Corinth; but Euronusa Queen of Tenedos, one that if love and affection had power to make two, one was in nothing divided from that dearly and ever to be beloved Helen, and that having had notice to what damnable use this Apostate and Postridian day was reserved, namely the destruction of her, who till this time had been the safeguard of many kingly hearts, and hearts Kingdoms, was come either with her prayers, tears, or the threats of a divine justice, who as the apple of his eye maintaineth the oppressed estate of the innocent, to take away, or at least defer the unjust rigour of her undeserved condemnation, to which she had many hopeful, and well pleasing persuasions, as her estate, power, and kindred, the law of Nations, and the opinion of the world, apt to rebel where so unnatural tyranny is offered to an anointed sovereign; but chief and above all these, an ancient and long exercised acquaintance betwixt her and the noble Phalantus, who (as she heard) being a principal actor upon this stage of suspicion, was not unlikely to rule and overrule the tide of mutinous and barbarous misconceived credulityes, and with him she intended to deal so effectually, that he should not only be free from the detection of so monstrous an imagination, but if not for virtues sake, yet for his Honour's sake, himself seek to undergo by the just trial of a well managed sword, the happy means of her deliverance: But (said she) fair Prince, since the heavens (who in their all-knowing uprightness, know what is best for their glories and our weakness) have allotted you as a sacred Vmpiere in this devout and most holy action: Be omnipotent in thy resolutions, go forward and persist even to the death in this all-love-gaining achievement, so shall thine honour either exceed the glories of thy great birth, or thy death be crowned with an immortal Diadem of men's praises and admirations; Never did the unspotted Moon blush with a more bashful amazement, when mistaking her desires, she kissed the sleeping cheek of Endymion, than this all-worthie Prince did when he beheld himself thus entrapped within the commandment of an unexpected obedience: but when he had called into the depth of his consideration, the whole account of both their intentions, and saw the level of their aims was the advancement of one entire glory, and that what honour and piety stirred in him, love and acquaintance kindled in her; he absolutely without further disputations resolved that he had well done, in what he had then done, and how ever the loss might redound either to his life or fortune, yet never to start aside, or infringe the least article of his honourable concluded bargain; and with that alighting, and disarming one of her slain Knights, and arming himself with his pieces, he mounted upon his horse again, and riding before the Coach, paced back to that place where before he had left the two unfortunately loving Shepherds, & now found convocated together on that reserved Theather of the most worst expectations, an infinite number of all sorts of pitiful and unpitying people, some shedding tears of true sorrow for the accident; some weeping to see others weep, and some for fashion sake to be thought soft hearted, though they neither apprehended the terror, nor felt in themselves any sympathy of like misfortune; all with one greediness, like an eye-longing Auditory before the beginning of some high state-promising Tragedy, looking about and wishing to see what they made the world by their sorrow believe they were loath to see,  
Amongst this assembly came the Queen Euronusa, and the valiant Adunatus, placing themselves in so convenient standings, that nothing either by word or act, could pass without their judgements or knowledges, with no less expectance of what should then ensue then the rest, though with far contrary determinations; for in the one of them was a Pity full of Help, in the other a power able, and therefore inwardly resolved to help, whereas all other succour was but Pity, and God help, the Pining charity of a miserable giver. But they had not stayed so long in this place, that one could well say they had stayed any thing at all, when there arrived there two Bishops, and two grave Lords of estate, whose wisdoms had built them great honours in the Commonwealth of Laconia, and with them (either as a defensive guard to maintain the uprightness of their Embassage, or as a Bugbear to affright the many headed Monster opinion, ever then ready to be delivered from the womb of common multitude) the most noble and valiant reputed Phalantus, armed in a black Armour, curiously damaskt with intertwining wreaths of Cypress, and Ewe, his barb upon his horse, all of black Ab●osetta, cut in broken hoops upon curled Cypress; his horse also all black, and upon his shield which was suitable to the sadness of his attire, there was imbosted a flying Pegasus, yoked to a Plough, fastened in the earth; under which was written a Greek sentence which signified, Compulsion not Desire, and before these road six Pursuivants, not four Kings at Arms, in the rich abiliments of Laconia: after them a close Litter covered with black Velvet, and supported by two black horses, in which the desolate Queen was borne to her murderous exilement: after her road all the chief estates of that Country, and on either side, as two guarding wings marched sundry bands of the most expertest Soldiers in those parts, conducted by the most principal Captains of that Kingdom: but when they were come into the midst of the press of common people, and that the Bark was towed into the Ocean, and a Barge ready to receive the Queen to bear her aboard the unfurnished vessel, there grew such a murmuring confusion, and such a disunion of thoughts amongst the multitude, that like the jarring sound of many vntuned Instruments, they not only amazed the Nobility, but also gave undoubted cause to fear some sudden insurrection whereupon one of high place (called Cosmos) whose excellent understanding, was graced with a more excellent eloquence, being lifted aloft upon men's shoulders, after solemn Proclaimations made by the sound of Trumpets for a general silence, thus with a loud voice spoke to all that were congregated together in that presence.  
You people of what kingdom soever you be, which come to be beholders of this days deeds, chief you, O you Laconians, to whom the memory thereof shall remain, writ in the hearts of you and your successions for ever; why are you carried like a Deluge with every wind, or affrighted like Babes with insufficient suppositions? O call up your wont courages, and look into your own calamities, whilst I intend here first to denounce unto you your loss which is unspeakable, your redress which is unrecoverable, and the sacrifice for our evil thought most available; your loss it is the loss of the most excellent Amphialus, a Prince in whom Nature, Art, and wonder, strove to extol the omnipotency of their powers, in the infiniteness of his excellencies; a man of such admirable virtue, that his whole life was the worlds best Academy of dearest beloved goodness, powerful beyond controlment, hard without rashness; wise without austerity, and honourable in the utmost lists of unsufferable extremity; a Lion Lamb, and a lamblike Lion; an unvanquished goodness, yet a goodness thrall to what ever was good reputed, Nay more, your loss is the loss of your King, the head and sovereign of your now dismembered bodies, the ornament of your lives, the maintainer of your weals, & the strait upholding column of yourselves, your wives & children's safeties: he that in his hand bears the calendar of your peace, registering years of playful Sabbaths, where before laboursome days of mourning by continual garboils, were hourly numbered and increased; whose sword was your victory, & whose victories were those glories which made you stand admired and adored; your loss is the loss of the father of your Country, that dear father that hath brought her up to excel all her companions in beauty and perfections, he that hath made red his eyes with manly weeping, to see her in her Cradle, sick, weak, and almost dying, he that hath brooded her under his wings, fed her with his blood, and lodged her in his bosom, he that hath made himself lean with watching, lest she should perish in her sleeping, and he that hath slept with pity, when his errors strove to awake him, to take revenge of her impieties. This, O Laconians, is your loss, the virtuous Amphialus, your King, your glory, your beatitude, and your father; will you then lose all this, and yet reserve to yourselves the name of living creatures? will you  this dishonour with sufferance, yet expect to be accounted virtuous? O that it were possible, or that drawing these wrongs in a Lethe of opinion Laconia might either hold her reputation, or you your own safeties. But since the all surveying eye of justice will not so have it, be not as examinated carcases, but as eternal spirits to redress these ruins of your fortunes; Redress, said I, O that there were such a word left but to gild our remembrances: O no Countrymen, in that alone is the Superlative of our miseries reserved: there is no redress for our calamity, no Balm for our wound, nor no repeal that can call back our banished good fortunes; Things hopeful to be amended, may with modesty be less by much bewailed; but desperate Ulcers incurable, are both the mind and bodies continual torment; were there a time in any time left to behold his home returning, then might the expectation of that season give some sweet taste to our afflictions; but all is taken away, all hope, all goodness, all past and to come good fortune; for who hath banished him but himself, and who will maintain his exile but his own resolution? himself that is the God of his Fortune, and his Resolution a decree like Fate never to he controlled: Is it likely that he who most preiudicately saw his own ill, and eschewed it, will seek to revive that evil, and anew to return unto it? It cannot be imagined, or if it could, the vows he hath thrown throughout the world are impregnable Bulwarks to withstand his returning, having sworn by his princely hand never again to behold Laconia. If he then be valiant, that spirit will detain him; if he be wise his wisdom will make his vows lawful; and if he be just, there can no injustice shine in his actions. And to the first, let his conquests speak, to the next his government; and to the last, both the world & you that are his people. Thus is our amends frustrate, and Redress slain utterly dead for ever; Is it then in your opinions tolerable to lose him, to lack remedy, & neither to him nor us yield any satisfaction? the gods forbidden! then our satisfaction must be the abolishing of that evil by which our first evil was engendered, which is the life of Helen, even Helen the too-early late-crowned Queen of our Country, she that hath overthrown the goodly temple of her virtue, by an invertuous communicating of those beauties which to him only should have been for ever most dearly preserved; she that in her love hath been false to Amphyalus, dishonourable to herself, and an utter ruin to us, you, & this country. If then you will have your King restored, restore him by her death, for in her ending must consist the best of his living, and in this action doth the world infinitely gaze upon you, to see whether any vain title of beauty, or perfections can rebelliously withdraw your minds from the execution of justice: restore unto yourselves your ancient honours, by banishing out of the land your dishonours, which is only she by whom all our infamies are maintained; and that this may be performed by such a direct mean of well intending, that no severe judgement may attach us of cruelty; thus have the Senate & Lords of Laconia decreed, that Helen shall be conveyed into a carvel mastless & sailelesse, unmanned, unuittaild, & of all munition unfurnished, which being toaed forty leagues into the main Ocean, there be left to the mercy of the gods, the seas, and her own furtune if she be blameless, her preservation will be doubtless; if faulty her end will be swift and without pity; how ever in us will be nothing but the discharge of a most loyal duty, wherefore as many as love Amphyalus, wish for Amphyalus, or hope for the benefit of his blessed sight, throw up their hats as a sign of consent to the execution of this noble justice.  
The whole assembly whose minds were variously carried up and and down with a desire and fear, or a fearful desire to wish nothing that might put them in fear of ensuing good fortune; And even those betwixt whose lips yet stuck the word of safety, to the never-ill deserving Queen Helen, were so enchanted with the plain Rhetoric of this honest-seeming Oration, that as if all their several bodies had had but one mind, that mind one head, that head but one tongue to utter their cogitations, cast up their caps, and cried the judgement was excellent, and not to be reversed: all be even at the beginning of the speech scarce any two agreed one in opinion, some consenting more for fear then conscience, some dissenting as much upon will as loyalty, some to be reputed strict performers of justice, some to be thought charitable in pitying the innocent, some to seem to understand deeper mysteries than were hid in plain dealing; and some to pick a thanksgiving of such as might pursue like hard fortune: All in such mutiny of censures, that it was impossible either to discern Pity, Mercy, or justice, until the colours of this speech (as always the eyes of common multitude are bleared with showful reportings) had brought them to concur and agree in one Opinion and consent of her destruction, the fearful fearing the scourge of disobedience; the wilful willing to have their wills performed; the severe as delighting in cruelty; the charitable for a counterfeit love to their Country; the wise to be renowned for their deepness; and the flatterers to draw to them a good opinion of well meaning; which no sooner was perceived by the most politic Queen Euronusa, whose heart enkindled her brain with a fiery wisdom, to see the desperate estate whereunto the air of words drew her dearest beloved, but breaking through the multitude, and opposing face to face with the Nobility of Laconia, lifting up a well tuned voice, guarded with so reverent a countenance of glorious Majesty, as did not only entice but astonish the beholders, drawing their attentions to a silent dumbnes, she thus made answer to the former Oration.  
You Princes, Lords, and Commons of Laconia, let neither my presence (how greatly so ever at this time inexpected) nor my words (though far unsuitable to this voluntary consent you have given for the kill of a worth innocent) breed in you so much wonder, as your inconsideracie (never till this time known, or attached) stirreth in me an admiration beyond the compass of common admiring, the rather when I behold your gravities directed and led by the blind eye of no reason; why, whither are your Noble judgements fled? (till now the Schools of other Nations) where are your faiths? where are your loves? and where are your wisdoms? Are all slain with insubstantial words, with broken arguments, and ungrounded supposes? O that it were as lawful for me to chide you, as it is most necessary for yourselves, in yourselves, to condemn yourselves as blameworthy; you have this day by your consents hurt only Amphyalus, dishonoured only Amphyalus, and adjudged to death not Helen, but in Helen the living soul of Amphyalus; insomuch that if the backe-looking eye of your understanding do not recall that unadvised evil of your too-suddaine verdict, it will be too manifestly true (as this Gentleman hath over-wel delivered with an ill intention) that your loss will be unspeakable, your redress unrecoverable, and no satisfaction (though the sacrifices of your own wives and children) will in the eye of the world be esteemed available, for it is most certain, that in losing her, you lose that Prince, that virtue, that power, that strength, that wisdom, that honour, that Lion, that Lamb, and that goodness he hath spoke of; nay that King, that had, that ornament, that maintenance and colombe of your safeties; and more than this, and more than he or I can or have spoken, the divine father of your kingdom, sith the Sacramental mystery of two most entirely loving hearts counited, and inseparably joined together; hath made them one flesh, one spirit, and one body, so that they are not two but one creature, not he Amphyalus, but Helen, nor she Helen, but him you seek to kill, which is only Amphyalus, for no more than the shadow can be removed from the body (and yet be a shadow) the breath from life, or the falling rivers from the Ocean: no more may they be separated, divided, or disjoined; if then you will not lose him, lose not her in whom is his being, if for himself you will destroy himself, what thanks can you reap of him, or his admirers? were it not most preposterous in your judgements, by fire to seek to quench fire, or to heal a pain, by adding to it a greater pain of the self nature and condition? O let Ignorance itself, censure in that position; and what is this you now undertake, other than such proceeding seeking to cure his sick honour with a mortal Apoplexy? nay, let me descend nearer into your errors, and tell me (O you Laconians) who hath accused her, where are the testimonies of her evil, or who dare to affirm with an unblushing face that she is guilty? can your laws of Laconia by forepointed dooms prescribe Princes in general consultations, & find a treason where there is neither fealty nor allegiance? strange law of a strange senate. But be all things as you will, shall not the just hand of the infinite justice be stretched against you, and your successions, even to the last generation, if you violate the laws of justice? be assured it will; therefore for your own sakes and safeties, repeal your sentence, or at least defer it for some few days, in which if she procure not a champion that shall with a well ordered sword defend her innocence; let the persecution of her fortune pursue her faultiness.  
At that word the whole assembly, with an infinite clamour stopped the further passage of her words, and flocking about her like a swarm of Summer Bees, on the Mount of Hybla, cried, she had but well spoken, and that there was nothing but justice and reason in all she had spoken; turning all the razors of their opinions against that judgement, for whose maintenance before they were only whetted; so variable are the resolutions of the multitude, and so apt to delight in the last sound, how discordant soever. Which being perceived by the politic Queen, who loath that the cold words of any elder wisdom should quench the blaze she had newly kindled; after the bowing of her hand for a token of silence, she again these or such like words uttered.  
How suitable to your Noble gravities is this honourable consent (most famous Laconians) who knoweth not that is worthy of any knowledge, & how much in myself it shall be both respected and rewarded, witness mine hereafter designs, and my present thankfulness, for never was there any example of more just love, or of the love of justice; yet sith delay is the only torrent of hope, and Desire the sworn enemy to expectation, that mine innocent suit may be stained with neither of their imputations, behold here the most excellent Prince of Iberia, the famous Adunatus, who willing to expose his sacred person in so notable a defence, standeth to approve her never to-be blotted innoceny.  
Scarce had the Queen delivered these words, when Cosmos again stepped forth, Anger and Disdain warring in his countenance, willing to defend what was indefencible, began to second his first speech; But the common people, according to their common custom, when either they hear what they would not, or are come to the full point of what they expected, began some to hem, some to cough, some to spit, making such a Babel of confused utterances, that neither were his words retained, or respected; which perceived by Adunatus, who pressing forward with his horse, as a signal of somewhat he had to say, the people instantly were calmed, and he lifting up his Beaver, thus spoke.  
Fire (my noble Lords) is never quenched with swords; nor well grounded resolutions altered with weak persuasions; then why go you about by air to alter that which even by the destinies I persuade myself is foredoomed and decreed; the offer is noble and not to be refused, the reasons strong and not to be refelled, and myself willing, neither by any other adventure whatsoever to be withdrawn or concealed; for a seal to which noble deed I beseech you all, my Lords, remember and publish this my protestation. First, I protest this hapless Queen to be virtuous, immaculate and innocent, of all her unkind husband's imputations: and sith she hath no accuser but his jealousy, even to that jealousy, and that tongue which hath been the Herald to that jealousy, I hear denounce the lie, & will with this constant hand guided with my resolved heart, be ready to defend the same against Amphialus, the world, or by whom so ever I shall be called.  
He had no sooner made this protestation, but the people gave a great shout, and the Nobility seeing how this deluge had drowned all their former resolutions, with unwilling willingness gave consent to the motion, decreeing the execution should be deferred, and messengers dispatched through all the foreign parts of Christendom, to give notice to Amphyalus, of all that had passed in their proceed: but Euronusa loath to leave Helen in the hands of her executioners, fearing either the hate of age might work hurt for policy; or the flattery of youth might fail in a distressed fortune, she humbly he sought the Lords of Laconia, that they would deliver unto her the unhappy Queen, whom by the vows of her princely word, and all the obligations which could tie so great an Empress, she solemnly swore to bring forth unto them again upon forty days warning, whensoever they should command, for the trial and hazard of her fortune.  
The Nobility, as willing a little to flatter Helen, whose best fortunes were not altogether confounded, as loath by her detaining to give larger limits to her hatred, consented to the Queen's requests, & accepting her princely word for her redelivery, in most humble manner gave the woeful Helen to the noble Euronusa's protection, excusing much of that inexcusable course, which with such wilfulness they had pursued. Now was the meeting of these two Queens full of passion & delight: Passion in their woes, Delight in the excellency of their woes: but after a little interchange of sorrow (which humour though of some it be held base and coward; yet of others it is esteemed the ornament of Age, Virtue, and Continence) they having in their embracements and kisses, told the tonguetied message of their hearts, began now in solemn sort to take their leaves of the Lords and States of Laconia; the woeful Queen Helen, in her silence, showing that she desired nothing which themselves did not first desire. But Phalantus humbly craving her to measure his doings by the power he had to do, and not to let his silence condemn what his busy thoughts were in labour to bring to pass, besought both the Queens to accept his service, and that they would vouchsafe him leave, to attend them into the I'll Tenedos. The Queen's right gratefully accepted his offer, and so after many accompliments twixt him and the worthy Adunatus, they departed on upon their journey, where having passed through the Country of Lacenia, and a great part of Peloponesus, without any adventure worthy noting, they came at length to those sands which lie against the I'll Cythera, from whence by an even line they may pass to Tenedos; there they found attending for the Queen Euronusa six Galleys, which had formerly wasted her over; into which so soon as the Queens were ready to enter, the most excellent Adunatus, with a countenance as full of Majesty as love, (yet never any countenance more dearly beloved) humbly besought the Queens that he might attend them no further in that journey, but that like an exammated carcase, or a soulless man (for other he protested he was not) he might spend some few days in the quest of his friend, whose absence was unto him the absence of all comfort whatsoever, which friend (he saind) he had lost by shipwreck immediately before his encounter with the Queen Euronusa; to this entreaty he adjoined a solemn oath, and an inviolable protestation, once ever in forty days to give notice to the Queens, where, or in what place he remained, that whensoever he should be called, either by Amphyalus, or any other, he would be prepared to give an account, both for his own, and the desolate Queen's fortune.  
The Queen's grieved at his desire, yet were loath to grieve at any thing he should desire, loath in themselves to countermand any his demands, yet wishing a power to command his demaunding, with tears in their eyes (the true messengers of their loves) and humbleness in their looks (perfit badges of their obedience) they answered him, that since in his virtues was the felicity of their lives, and that as lesser Spheres they were only moved by the power of his greatness, it became them not either to question or contradict, only this they besought him to imagine, that his presence was unto them as the suns fair beams to the storme-wrackt Mariner, and his absence like the hour of endurance in the house of affliction; but sith his content must be begot by their discontents, they were willing to be pleased with their greatest discomfort.  
Thus after innumerable tears shed, and many hearty departures, the Queen having appointed her choicest Galley to attend the Prince in his journey, giving him sundry most rich jewels for the testimonies of her friendship, they went all aboard, the two Queens, and Phalantus, directing their journey for Tenedos the Prince Adunatus holding his course for Cythera, and the lower islands, but there he found nothing but that he would not have found, a certain absence of his friend's presence: thence he returned back into Greece, to see if at the Olympian games he were present; but the sports were to him wearisome, or not at all because Thaumastus was not there at all: from the Olympian games, he went to the games Pithii (celebrated in the honour of Apollo) but found them lonely, because without his friends company, from thence to Corinth, and to the strait of Isthmus, to see if at the games Isthumi, (founded by Theseus in the honour of Neptune,) his friend might be found; but no place yielding him the comfort of his friend, he grew comfortless in himself. Thence he went to the games Nemei; thence in Crete, to see if at Pyrrhus' dance he were present: but finding every place as speechless as himself was hopeless, he directed his way-up into Thessalia, where having travailed some few days, he came to the skirts of the Mountain Ossa, whose well-raised Brow seemed to be a counsel-keeper with the Firmament, and whose well proportioned hugeness, and well appareled beauty, testified the great deity of our first grandam Nature. Keeping his way by this mountain, he arrived at the head of the river Penaus, whose smooth delicacy, and delicate smoothness, did forcibly invite the eye of the traveler, to wonder at the smoothness. Here the Prince's horse finding his masters care, careless of his labour, began to tire, and with a sudden stop taught him to know, that violence is without continuance: whereupon the Prince alighting from his back, and plucking off his Bridle, gave him leave to feed upon the choicest grass, whilst himself withdrawing himself into a goodly wood of Pine-trees near adjoining, where thinking to make the neglect of sleep a comfort to over busy care, he began to lay himself down under the Canopy of a goodly Pine, but a little keeping his eyes open, that they might after close with more safety, he might behold hard by him a thick, dark, and most obscure grove, where bramble, Thorn, and Brier, had with so many interlacing and interchangeable windings, knit & counited their branches together, that the all-pearcing Sun had not power to dart his smallest beams through the widest Casement; at this the Prince a little amazedly looking, thinking that Nature should not bestow so great Art upon so base matter, he might behold (though half obscured with the lesser trees) a little Arch, which men might imagine a door, yet such a door as would scarce give entrance to a Pigmy without stooping, so cunningly cut through the mids of the thicket, that it gave the eye a little more liberal passage into the bowels of that night-like darkness. The Prince wondering at his imaginations, which presented him with nothing but imaginary wonders might at last perceive come creeping upon his hands and knees through that little Arch a most decrepit and aged old man, who with the help of his Crutch (the only companion of his weakness) raising himself from the ground, he discovered the only Monument of Nature, Time, and man's weakness; his bald-head circled with a few milk-white hairs, and his long grey beard girdling his withered cheeks, looked like the flakes of snow upon the Alps, or Pyreneans: his hollow eyes hid in red cabarets, never weary of weeping for their youths wantonness, looked like two decayed Lamps, whose Oil was consumed; next his skin he wore haircloth for repentance, and upon it a grey gown for warmth, which maintaining life, made more large his repentance. At his girdle his Beads, in his hand a Book, whose leaves were worn with often turning, and sullied with the tears of his true contrition. Thus being come forth to suck up the air of this wholesome place, sitting down upon a neighbour bank unto the grove, and lifting his eyes to heaven, the Prince might hear him deliver these or such like speeches.  
O Ambition, thou neighbour unto Kings, companion with greatness; why dost thou bewitch us with society, yet givest the first taste of solitariness? why seekest thou to be alone, yet usurpest on many kingdoms? O it is not thy deity over us, but the sickness of our souls within us, which Reason and Wisdom must cure, else can no place or distance recover: thou dost present the shape of loneliness to make us alone miserable. But rest with thine unrest in the bosom of greatness, whilst I salute thee my true solitariness, thou which makest Content depend upon ourselves, and untiest the knots which binds us unto others, gaining unto men this triumph, that in living solitarily men live at ease, thou which ever presents unto our minds the idaea's of Virtue, whose well ordered government sets in order all disordered imaginations, containing man's self in himself, without the assistance or help of foreign society bringing unto man's knowledge all true felicity, which enjoyed (according to the measure of understanding) rests in himself satisfied without further ambition of long life or vainglory; Lo (sacred Pan) this is my true and pure Philosophy, which inspired by thy God-heade makes blissful my solitariness. And here he paused as if his breath had envy his utterance, or his heart been grieved, that he should throw into the air the Heaven of her cogitations, at which the Prince arising up, seeing there was no hope of further meditation, and putting off his Helmet that the cheerfulness of his face might banish the terror of his armour; with a majesty full of beauteous love, and lovely courtesy, he saluted the old man, wishing him those happy hours which might make age most happy, and that life, which to those years might neither be tedious, nor loathsome, Desiring him therewithal strst to let him know the condition of the soil wherein he now was, next the state of his old age, and solitary abiding: lastly, what adventures were unachieved, which might bring honour to the virtuous.  
Excellent son (said the old man) for I dare not call thee Pyrophylus, lest in denying thy name thou give me cause to suspect thy virtue, know this soil whereon thou treadest, is a part of Thessalia, one of the most fruitfullest, and delectablest Provinces in all Greece, this Mountain is called Ossa, yond River Penaus, which gliding with gentle pace, twixt it and Olympus watereth and beautifieth the only excellent work of Nature, and Garden of the world the Thessalian Tempe, for myself I am called Eugenio, whom ninety nine Winters hath Frost-nypt, and distempered, and as many summers hath Sunne-burnt and inflamed; I have seen the change of many Kings, and many alterations in Religion: Men call me Prophet, but I profess myself only a Priest unto the great God Pan, whose Chapel stands within this grove, and on whose Altar I daily burn the sacrifice of the righteous: As for adventures in this place, though there be none so worthy as may by due make challenge to thy virtue, yet be there some so virtuous as please thee to approve, will add much to thine infinite goodness.  
The Prince hearing himself called by his own name, in a place where ever till that time he had been an utter Stranger, and with all understanding, how near he was unto the Paradise of all delights, the Thessalian Tempe, the report whereof had in former time so enchanted his ears, that his heart could have no quiet, till his eyes might be made the judges of such notable perfections, but above all and which in him had a Superlative government, exceeding all (the promise of some virtuous adventure) grew so much surprised with amazement, and that amazement seconded with such an unresistible Desire, that persuading himself his only dear friend, the renowned Thamastus (being the ground of his desire) could not be absent from a place so infinitely desired; with a most humble courtesy mightily remarkable in such an heroical spirit, taking the old man by the hand, said.  
Most holy Priest, and divine father of contemplation, in whose breast the heavens have locked up the treasure of their counsels: vouchsafe, I beseech thee, (unto me a man) to discharge those knowledges, which may concern the honour I profess, or the relief of any innocent creature distressed; and I protest that allbe the life I have lost being mine own life, lodged in the bosom of one by much many decrees dearer than my breathing, calls me to an hourly quest of mine only beloved; yet for virtues sake (father) which hath ever been my Goddess, and for your own sake, whom I find to be virtues admirer, I will not spare any time or danger to accomplish what thy reverence shall think meet for mine undertaking.  
The old man replied; son sit down by me upon this green bank, and I will tell thee a story of much cruelty, more inconstancy, but most almighty love; wherein if thou shalt hear any thing to grieve thee, with Democretes laugh at the world's vanity: if any thing to make thee smile, weep with Heraclitus, that love should make Reason foolish: what ever thou hearest, apply to this present age, and say the world is old, & must needs go upon Crutches With that the Prince sitting down, and locking his attentive ears unto the old man's speech, Eugenio thus began.  
This Country of Thessalia, amongst all his neighbour Kingdoms, was ever held in singular account, as well for the stately situation, fruitful soil, & fair buildings, as for the noble inclination of the people, who hated disobedience as the image of a barbarous nature, & ambition as an engine to overthrow the Towers of great ones; but above all, her honour hath of late been especially advanced through this miracle of Time and Nature: this excellent composition of all terrestrial perfections, I mean this most famous Tempe, which being but a small plot of ground in comparison of the great kingdom of Arcadia, dares yet to make boast of her Shepherds, of her flowers, and of her sheeps revenues. This Tempe was at first called Natures Eden, because in it was no part of man's workmanship; yet the work in Art more strange than the Art or work of man could correct; the trees did not overgrow one another, but seemed in even proportions to delight in each others evenness: the flowers did not strive which should be supreme in smelling, but communicating their odours, were content to make one entire sweet savour; the beds whereon the flowers grew, disdained not the grassy Allies, but lending to them their lustre, made the walks more pleasant; the fair river Penaus would at no time overflow his banks to drown their beauties, but with gentle swellings wash them like a dewy morning: the springs did not challenge the river, because his water was not as theirs, so wholesome, but paying their tribute into his bosom, made him able to bear ships of burden; the houses were not angry that there were Arbours for pleasure, but shadowing them under their high roofs, did safeguard them from tempests? what shall I say, Tempe wanted nothing that could make it fair, yet all that it possessed made it but most beautiful, in so much that the most famous and ever to be admired Prince Musidorus, after his return fourth of Arcadia into his Thessalia with his Pamela, in remembrance of his shepherds life, and in honour of that life; in which he had got the honour of his contentment, taking a curious survey both of Tempe and all her best beauties, he immediately built himself a most curious house, even in the midst thereof, where wanting nothing that might breed delight, he found the excess thereof did breed sometimes a loathing of pleasure, near unto his own house, and round about the bordering skirts of this Tempe, he built many pretty and convenient cottages; in which he placed certain shepherds whose well tempered minds (finding the ambition of better advanced people, smallly avail to the attainment of true felicity) are the only schools to teach their foreign Neighbours, that their industry and providence neither giveth hope of disturbance, nor example of general or private quarrel: into this place he would seriously retire himself in the void time of his progress, as much to renew his remembrance with his past knowledges as to better his instant knowledge with new matter worthy of most excellent remembrance, so exceeding witty were the shepherds by him there placed, and so much excellency did his presence administer to them which were but simply witted; near unto his own house, he built a fair and sumptuous Temple Circular and in form of the ancient Iewes Synagogue the outside of marble, containing fifty Arches, every Arch a door, each door seven windows, each window seven Pyllasters of jet, and porphyry, each pilaster, seven images of the Saints, Sages, and worthies of past ages. This Temple he dedicated to the great Goddess Diana, and endowing it with a Metropolitan authority, subjecteth not only unto those laws (which laws are engraven in certain Pillars of Copper and Marble, adjoining to the Temple and other places) the Residents, home borne, and strangers in that province, but even himself his crown and succession; In this place, and in this rural company, he took a more than most contented delight, they seeking by Eglogues, pastorals, shepheardly contentions, and other sports of wit and courage, as running, leaping, wrestling, throwing the Dart, the Stone, and the Massy axel-tree to ingraft in his settled judgement a settled continuance of those harmless commendations. This continuing the happy days of this more happy King, death coming to challenge his subject nature, & taking from the eye of the world, what the world's eye most dearly esteemed, (I mean this renowned Musidorus) he left behind him as the only heir of his Kingdom and perfections, the alone incomparable Mellidora, nature's wonder: the Muse's subject, and the Book of Beauty: the day of delight: the life of love: and the jewel of eternity. But she to whom the strangeness of grief made the evil shape thereof by many degrees much more ugly, took such an incurable surfait through her impatience, that esteeming no commandment (the Fates having taken away her only commander) she gave herself clearly from the commandment both of her own and other passions, and by no persuasion would either take care for the common wealth (to her by her Father's death so deeply engaged) not comfort in the Crown, without which the great man imagines there can be no true felicity; for which error, when the Sages of her Kingdom had with an humble chiding showed her the faults of her will, & the office of her calling, in the one, painting the effects of her weakness; in the other, the seal which must advance her to eternal happiness; she with a sad resolution made them this answer.  
I know my Lords (as sound men do) the effects of Physic, but cannot digest taste of the potions: I know mine evil, but my passion overrules me; therefore I beseech you, be suffering as myself will be patiented, give me the name, take upon you the nature of mine office; rule you my Kingdom, let me only rule my thoughts: deal you with reasonable men, whilst I deal with unreasonable passions: for I protest I will intermeddle with no subject but the subject of my sorrows. To what end (fair Prince) shall I wade further into the Labyrinth of her woes? suffice it me thus to say, the virtuous Melidora, referring the government of her kingdom to a well chosen Senate, and betaking herself with a convenient retinue of Ladies and attendants, into this delicate Tempe, hath ever since her father's death lived Nymph-like, exercising hunting, throwing the Dart, running, and such goddess-like pleasures, wherein she doth so far exceed all possible imaginations, that if Shafalus himself were yet living, he would become a suitor for her knowledge: Into this Tempe is prohibited by an especial Edict upon pain of death, the approach or arrival of any Prince, Nobleman, or other of City quality; the innocency of the place desiring no commercement, but with innocent creatures, except only at that time when the young Princes of Delphes came to offer to Apollo their nine years Sacrifice. Into this place not long sithence, there is come a young Shepherd, whose name is Thirsis, borne (as he saith) in Pelagonia, and recommended thither by especial Letters from divers of the ancient Shepherds of Arcadia, who having Wit the contriver, & Money the means which only in this age doth advance fortunes, falling into acquaintance with a silly blockheaded swain called Corydon (one who made folly his best wisdom, and extreme ignorance the depth of his best knowledge) hath purchased from him, both his flock, and the privileges belonging to his flocks keeping. This Coridon becoming now a servant unto Thyrsis, who to attain the pleasures of the soil, would not have disdained to have called him master,: Allbe I may justly say without the fear of reprehension, this Thirsis hath showed himself so excellently endued with all the admirable parts of perfection, that he may worthily be termed the miracle of this age he lives in; his youth being in the May time of his flourish, exceeded with a most exceeding beauty, which beauty ravishing all eyes, was bettered by virtue that did astonish hearts; his judgements tempered with much knowledge, his knowledge coupled to a demure silence; what shall I say, so excellent were his good parts, that he wan love in his companions, and admire in strangers, every one imitating his actions for their praises, and alleging his words as their best authorities. But as we see the Curtain of the night takes from our eyes the glory of the day, yet is the days return no less beautiful; so a little Melancholy drawn on by a mighty love distempering his soul, brought him to the use of much solitariness, which solitariness like a sly enemy, seeking to steal the mind from the body, clothing himself in the robes of virtue and divine contemplation, so imprisoned Thirsis under the arrest of his passions, that in the end he began to forsake all company; sports he contemned, pastorals he neglected; his profits waned, his flock wasted, and himself consumed; which being by all his neighbours with much pity noted, was by many of his best wishers infinitely lamented, especially by a famous Forester thereby, named Siluagio, whose better profession brought him to a better feeling of the minds infirmities, and whose best love being by a strong bond of not to be canceled faith tied unto Thirsis and his virtues, called him now forth to seek some cure for his friend's malady, whereupon ranging up and down through every Desert, by path and unfrequented harbour, he might at last behold the most pensive Shepherd lying under the protection of an old withered Oak, whose aged arms being the witnesses of his intolerable woes, seemed to be more old through his lament, which lament made even the air in tears to lament for company. After Siluagio had well undertaken the sight of the sad Shepherd, his eyes commanding his feet to stay, lest the suddenness of his approach might be stained with an unfriendly welcome; yet with great privacy, drawing so near, that his ears might be copartners of the words which the loving Shepherd delivered, after some little pause he might hear him unto his Pipe sing this Sonnet following.  

IN vain my wits you labour to excuse,  
The ugly torments of my care-slaine mind,  
Alleging Reasons, Reason to abuse,  
Sense made by love a slave by passion blind:,   

O wit that dost to appite appear,  
Like Prince's flatterers smooth and delicate,  
Keeping an open passage to that ear,  
Whereto thy Mermaids songs are dedicated;   

Delude me now no more, but let me see,  
The naked Image of my forlorn thought,  
Show me the great woes in my love which be,  
And those much greater my despair hath wrought,   

Nay show me that which of woes greatest is,  
My folly's fault, to love and sure to miss.   
After he had sung this song, throwing himself upon the ground, and folding his arms one within another, he began to complain in this manner.  
Miserable, forlorn, and dejected that I am, how oft hath the cry of my complaints, and the sad sorrow of my speech compelled the hard rocks, the senseless trees, and the humble shrubs, to a shivering pity? and how oft (alas) hast thou my Pipe enticed the Valleys, Meadows, and running Springs, with a silver Echo to reply unto my sad sighing, and in a murmuring fashion to bear the burden of my lamentation? But sith I find thou hast no power to breath pity nor sweetness, which may stir compassion in that most excellent breast, whose divine resolutions holds the determination of my life, even as my heart breaks, break my Pipe: & with that, breaking his Pipe into as many pieces as his heart was mangled with many torments, he fell into a swoon, which perceived by Siluagio, to whom friendship presented the cause of pity, and pity the effect of speedy assistance, he ran unto the Shepherd, and folding him in his ●●●es, after life had got a little upper hand of passion, he spoke thus unto him. What means my Thirsis? these confounding agonies which rather makes thee trouble these fair springs with the deluge of thy tears, then give comfort to the Sky by thy divine melody? But Thirsis casting his countenance upon Siluagio, yet such a countenance, as rather commanded Pity to suffer, than Wisdom to chide the error of his passion, said unto him. Ha Siluagio, Siluagio, I am even like unto my Pipe, whose tune is answerable to the fingers touch, when it strikes it; for if the touch be smooth & soft, the harmony is pleasant; if rude and rough, it jars & distasteth the hearers, and so of myself; My songs are lamentations, touched with the bitterness of sorrows fingers; O but yet (said Siluagio) let me conjure thee, first by our loves, which even Savadges have accounted an honourable friendship; next by the pleasures of our former meetings, when with the eagerness of our desires, we have attended the Nymphs in their chasings; and lastly for the Muse's sakes, who as true Mistresses of Memory, enrich thee with those conceits which shall outlive all remembrances, that thou wilt vouchsafe to discharge thy sorrows into my bosom, wherein if my counsel cannot amend, yet shall not mine endeavours end, till I endeavour to end thy misfortune.  
He grieves not Siluagio (said Thirsis) that can tell how much he grieveth, for heavy cares sit heavy on the soul, they be but light shadows, which leap from the tongues uttererance: yet if it please thee to sit down, and lean against this tree, I will be content to disclose, what to these woods, this bank, these bushes, yond streams, and these Birds I have long since disclosed, only to no Shepherd it is revealed, and yet me thinks, sith I feel my death so near, 'ttwere fitter to conceal my folly, and only grave it in some tender bark, by which my body shall be interred, that when the Goddess shall pass by for whose sake I consumed, she may triumphing say, Lo here lies the victory of mine eyes, and my beauty's conquest; But Siluagio impatient to be delayed, began again to importune him with such unresistible persuasions, that thus in the end Thirsis began to deliver his fortunes.  
At such time Siluagio as every Bud began to make his tender leaf appear upon the earth, and that every woody Querister skipping from bough to bough, chanted fair welcomes to the Springs first coming, myself lying under the shadow of a pretty bush, tuning my Pipe to the delicacy of their sweet notes, made in my conceit so harmonious a consort betwixt Art and Nature, that the poor fools in their contentment seemed to play and dance about me. In the midst of this sportive merriment, like a nimble Roe, came the fair Milidora tripping by; her hair in most lovely quantity, hanging about her shoulders, which the winds being in love withal, most sweetly kissing, not rudely stirring, seemed in their gentile motion to quiver like the Aspen leaves; as I perceived she came for counsel to a holy Fountain hard by, to tie them all up again in a well ordered proportion: which done, she cast a vail of silver over the rich. Mine of that golden treasure, and bordering that vail with a Coronet of all the flowers that ever Mother-nature could boast of, for either smell or colour, she seemed in mine eye much braver, and more sumptuously adorned then either juno's Bird, or the statue of Venus: O how me thought the Sun did stop, stand still, admire, and gazing, seemed ever desirous to gaze upon her: the stately Trees bowed their tall heads to honour her that gave an honour both to the heavenly and earthly mansion; her beauty me thought was the spring time to our Fields, the comfort to our Flocks, and the only food to the souls of men living. But whilst in the gloriousness of this eternal glory, she traced about the bank of the fountain, viewing her face in the crystal water; me thought I saw a blush like lightning break from the sky of her countenance, and she smiled to see how the beauty of her face stained all the other beauties with which she was adorned, whereby she appeared to say thus within herself; Alas I stick not these flowers about me to adorn my beauty, but to disgrace their own glories, when every creature shall behold how exceedingly I exceed them; But see alas Siluagio whilst thus my labouring imagination presented these delights to my desiring soul, the most excellent Princess turning about her fair quick eye (O eyes to whom all eyes are homagers) spied the bush to move wherein I was so safely coutched; whereat as mistrusting treason to her person, she slung down her flowers, and like the light winds which scorn to press the grass in their motion, fled from my presence, being the lightest Nymph on foot that ever was beheld by eye or by imagination; And here with a big-swelling sigh, he stayed from further speaking, till Siluagio a new reviving his remembrance, desired him to proceed and show what effects sprang from the cause of this interview: This, this (quoth Thirsis) I instantly felt a boiling Spring arise in my heart, which with a bubbling murmur, making his passage through every Vein and Artery of my body, like the shallow stream which breaks his way through the pebble stones, incited me with a new desire to follow her, but being withheld by Obedience, I was content to perish with Love, But (said Siluagio) did you never see her since? yes, yes, (qd. Thirsis) in Damson time when it pleased her amongst the Nymphs and Shepherds to gather the early fruit of the summers ripening, she commanded me to mount up into the Trees, and to shake the plumbs down into her lap: O how I did envy the senseless fruits happiness to see it fall and sport upon that bosom, where even Gods and Angels might have been proud to have reposed; yet did this favour so enrich my fortune, and my serviceableness draw on the favour of further service, that when it pleased this Princess (or rather Goddess) at any time for her delight to go angle in the lesser brooks, only I was commanded to provide the baits, I only had the charge of her hook, of her line and her angle; how oft I kissed the Cane, because her hand in touching had kissed it, how oft I embraced the line that had been wantonly entangled about her, how oft in my delivery I stole the touch of her pretty fingers, judge Love, judge Lovers, judge all that are beloved. O God yet me thinks I see with what delight the silly fish would glance at melidora's beauty through the glassy stream, whilst deceived with her bait she had struck them all with her hook, only the last nibbled so long about the line, that when the Princess thought to pull her pray to the shore, the murdering hook itself was taken quite away; at which sight my passion quickening my blood, and my blood reviving the spirit of my words: I could not forbear to say, behold thou all conquering Empress of men's hearts, the glorious blaze which this angling beauty lays to catch men's souls, shall even in this manner be gnawn and taken away by the Iron teeth of consuming time; and where shall then be the future power of killing? yet lovely Maid triumph over me, whom you have already taken, even me that like this simple fry delight in my perishing, and if you do (as your fair eyes are witnesses) bemoan the fish which hath swallowed down your hook, whose lingering torment is a sign of certain death; then pity me your slave, the merryt of whose affection shall far exceed the compassion due to any unreasonable creature. And what (said Siluagio) did the Princess answer to this pretty gloze? Sparks of displeasure (said Thirsis) flew with such a disdain from her eyes, that I was even Phaeton-like thunderstruck from the Chariot of mine ambition, whilst casting her lovely countenance to the humble earth, and knocking her silver chin against her ivory bosom, with a silence that spoke as much as could be understood by Anger, threw down her angle, & departed from my presence, her departure telling me that the ending of her sports should be the continuance of mine affliction;  
Canst thou not (said Siluagio) by neglecting her, fashion thine eye to find some other object? How shall I find other (answered he) and in her have lost myself? By forgetting her remembrance (said Siluagio.) She is my remembrance (answered Thirsis) and will not be forgot whilst I retain my memory. Then sue again (said Siluagio) thy tears may extort some pity; I dare not (cried Thirsis) lest I offend her patience: Why tell me (said Siluagio) what if she were within this Forest begirt with Tigers, Lions, or with Savage Beasts? I durst (quoth Thirsis) attempt her in such a case, because it were a rescue for the precious jewel of her life; What (said Siluagio) if thou sawst her taken by thieves, by Satyrs, or by wild Savadges? Why (quoth Thirsis) I durst charge an Army to relieve her honour: What Rock so steep that for her sake I would not climb? What Flood so deep that for her I would not sound? What flame would I not endure? What frost would I not suffer? nay, what Hell would I not ransack with Hercules, so that the end of my labour might but bring my love within the look of entertainment? Believe me (said Siluagio) she were Flynt itself, if she heard thee, and did not yield thee the favour of her countenance: but come, arise my Thirsis, and cast off this sorrow being no attribute to Virtue, but rather the Title of malignity, being ever an hurtful foolish quality, full of base thoughts and cowardice. Arise I say, and as we walk along, I will (if thou please) to kill thy passion, show thee the errors of thy passion: or if otherwise thy taste cannot endure such bitterness, I will to flatter thy Love, speak much in loves commendations: well (said Thirsis) since thy knowledge is so well able to declaim of every faculty in our pssions, I am content both to attend thee, and lend thee mine attention, so that in thy discourse thou exceed not the limits of modesty, by speaking against love, (to whom I am a slave,) nor against beauty (to whose perfections I am an eternal enthralled prisoner.) And with that Thirsis arising from the ground, walked along with Siluagio, hoping ere long to find some occasion which might occasion him to retire to his former solitariness: and in their walking, Siluagio began thus to discourse unto him.  
Of all the excellent humours, wherewith the mind of man doth commerce, or find itself busied (my Thirsis) there is none either more hot, more sharp, or more full of prayseworthie action, than this of love: which how ever more colder capacities shall entitle Ague-like uncertain observing fits and times, without either modest staidness, or constant perseverance, yet in the well settled judgement of the virtuous, it is found a general fame of an equal composure, constant, and firm, smooth and sweet, not raising desires beyond the Moon, nor pursuing Tantalus' fruit, which flieth us in following, neither doth it when wills are united and married together (as men suppose) mourn and consume, as if ending in enjoying, but enjoyeth according to the excellency of the desire that holds it, retaining a spiritual residence in a mind made pure with long use and custom, excelling all other affections and passions of the mind, like a most excellent picture that is bordered about with Antic Boscage, or Crotesko works of slight estimation. This love is not the most fruitlessest and base of all Passions, as being begot by Desire and Sloth, as working upon weak hearts and frenzies, as only accompanying mutinous passions, and uncomfortable jealousies; and in the end aspireth to a minute's Delight, which is usherd with much pain, and followed by an eternal future repentance: No, no, my Thirsis, true love, and true lovers do mingle and confound themselves so in each other, with a general mixture, that they outwear and lose the port or gate of their first entrance, Reason being taken away, and a more excellent and more fatal power made Mistress of that never to be untied union: these passions which they feign to be his consorts, are sicknesses of the mind, which envying loves exquisiteness, seek with their poisons to confound his beauties, but in the end, like clouds betwixt the Sun and our eiesights, do but darken love, that when love breaks out, it may be more resplendent.  
As Siluagio was thus going on, and discoursing, praising love with dispraises, Thirsis whose mind was busied about much higher thoughts, would suffer his ears to retain nothing, save only the sound of his speeches, till in the end lifting up their heads, they might espy the only Paragon of this worlds knowledge the excellent Melidora, somewhat a far off, coming in the self same path in which themselves walked, in so much that except they retired, they must perforce meet her eye to eye, and visage to visage. She was Nymph-like clothed in sundry coloured silks, which being placed one upon another were of an equal distance, one shorter than another, the inmost being longest, as braving of his most inward and familiar acquaintance, yet all of them joining their beauties together, made round about her an artificial Rainbow, her hair being wound up in a lace of gold, was intermingled with many Flowers; all which beauties as if they had been too glorious for heaven, or to rich for earth, were shadowed and all overcast with a large vail of white Cypress.  
In this sort she was returning from the Temple of Diana, that day being the great Sabbath dedicated to the Goddess, whereby the ancient ordinances and edicts of that place, all the Nymphs are to make their personal appearance, and to offer solemn sacrifice, and other private ceremonies to the Queen of Chastity, being all veiled from the iudyciall censure of the eyesight, lest the misprision of a blush, or the attaindure of a pale look should give occasion to a wanton thought to misdeem innocence,  
In this Temple upon this day, if there be found therein or after knowledge bring to light that there might have been found therein any man or creature of the Male kind, it is present death without appeal or justification. In this sort like the glorious Sun in his noontide progress, came she tracing along the valleys, her pretty foot scarce pressing down the flower that it trod upon. But Thirsis eyes, which long before had taken a full draft of her beauty, being now lightning, struck with the beams of her presence, wanting power to retire, his soul being retired from all power to command his intendments; amazedly stood still with fixed eyes, swollen heart, sad thoughts, stiff joints, and all the terrors that could accompany Love in his desperate estate; till Siluagio whose unrefined spirit did more wonder than retain the remembrance of what he wondered at, awakening Thirsis intranced soul, with earnest persuasions, desired him once more to encounter the Goddess of his fortunes, alleging that stolen hope which is ever most hopeless; that she was a woman and there was no impossibilities. But Thirsis who having once seen Disdain, carried ever after his remembrance in his bosom, like an affrighted child, that hides his head when the nurse talks of a Bugbear, would feign have gone aside from his sorrow, telling Siluagio it was but labour lost, sith both her greatness, virtue, and chaste thoughts, were in this conflict his mortal enemies. But Siluagio, taking upon him the power of Reason to overthrow Passion, with a friendly upbraiding of Thirsis timorousness, by no means would be withstood, but would force perforce, enforce him to meet the Princess, saying: who dares not adventure, can never attain; neither he which will not hazard upon peril, shall have the honour of perils overthrow; therefore advance thy fallen thoughts (my Thirsis) and plead their humble serviceableness whilst I withdraw myself into this grove, and pray for thy succeeding fortunes. At this Siluagio withdrawing himself apart, yet not so far but that his ears might have part of their conference, the noble Princess keeping her direct course, and being come even almost to the place where the love-thralld Shepherd stood, the poor Swain most humbly falling upon his knees, gave her this salutation.  
For ever may the grass be green (most sacred Nymph) which thou treadest upon, with thy more dainty feet, and may an eternal Spring flourish in thy walks, as thine immortal Beauty flourisheth in the hearts and eyes of all thy beholders.  
To this salute, the Princess in a pretty silent blush, giving him a sleight thanks, offered to pass by him, as carried away with far greater designs than the note of his favours. But the forlorn Shepherd, who before fearing to offend, now having given offence, imagining Injury and it to have both but one merit, staying the Nymph by her sacred garments, & binding his knees still Apprentices to the base earth, thus seconded his former speech, after many tears and sighs interruptions.  
Thou only Superlative of all thy sex, even for thy virtues sake fly not from thy servants presence, but if it be possible that the desperate anguish of my love, may raise any appearance of pity in the all-saving Firmament of thy sweet, chaste, and sober countenacne, even for the honour of thine own dear name, unto which all the hearts of Kings are tributary, send forth some spark to lighten my dark soul. O shun me not I say, alas 'tis for the harmless Lamb to shun the devouring Wolf; you are too fearful (Lady) O you are far too timorous, I am your servant, your vassal, and the work of your own eyes making; alas I come not to offer violence, but to receive outrage. Dear Goddess, empty thy Quiver, spend thy Shafts upon my soul, O stick them up to the feathers in my heart, for well I remember thou didst long since give me that incurable wound, which corsive like eating my heart, hath confounded my soul; and Reason leaving nothing but thy pity to call me from eternal bondage. O thou immortal mirror where beauty finds out her best beauties, thou that art the kingly seat of triumphant love, deign that thy fair eyes which make the morning blush, which parch heaven, scorch earth, fire the woods, breaks the frost, flowers the earth, and turns the dark night to the comfortable day, O let those eyes which are so much the fairer, by how much my torment is made greater by them to pity the anguish I have got by gazing on them.  
Melidora with a blushing countenance, whose rosy colour gave a sign of heavenly anger, eyeing the Shepherd with an appauling Majesty, demanded of him if he were not that Thirsis, who coming but lately into these walks, had made those curious hooks and baits with which herself and the other Nymphs had so oft taken so many fish? He made her answer, it was he: she demanded again, if it were not he that had made the curious Nets, wherewith himself and the Shepherds had taken so many birds? he made her answer, it was he; why then said Melidora, Shepheard farewell, I will no longer stay with thee, lest I be likewise taken by thee; but he staying her again, said; Excellent Lady, how can you be made captive by your prisoner, or how can your subject alter any of your determinations; alas (most excellent creature) you know my service hath attended you in the woods, in the Meadows, on the Mountains, at the springs, at the rivers by day, by night, I at every silent time, and yet hath my thoughts been pure without the stain of villainy: I said Melidora, but when young desires begin to sting and be inflamed, you give me cause to fear the effects of frenzy. I hope (said Thirsis) by that to purchase my glory, when you beholding mine anguish, shall admire my patience; O but you may forget yourself (said Melidora) I'll near forget (said Thirsis) to do that which shall content you; I'll near attempt that which in my knowledge shall offend you. I take you at your word (said Melidora) henceforth I charge you that you forget to love me; for there is nothing in the world can bring my mind better contentment; again I charge you, that you tarry no longer in my presence, for nothing in the world is more offensive unto me. Madam (said Thirsis) both your commands are extreme; yet to the first I must needs make answer, I can never forget to love you, because all my thoughts do (and must ever so do) live in you. Why (said Melidora) will you love me in despite of me? O no (said Thirsis) not in despite, though I cannot retire; Well (said Melidora) if thy disposition be as full of courtesy, as thy words are of care, avoid from me, or let me go from thee; I hope (said Thirsis) that Time, who is the world's conqueror, will either conquer you, or consume me, I humbly take my leave. And with that rising from the ground in such an heavy perplexity, that sorrow was never to be seen in a more sorrowful taking, he departed from her; and went, not respecting where or whither, only desirous to hide his head in some dark Cave, where none but Misery and he might live together.  
Siluagio that saw him thus departed like a condemned man; and was a witness of the heavy sentence that she his cruel judge had pronounced, wondering that infernal fury should be found in a heavenly body, and cursing nature that had placed a flinty heart in a silken Cabinet, followed his friend with infinite pensiveness, as well to prevent the advantage Despair, might take of grief, as to fortify that wounded hope which now was even at his last breathing. But Melidora, allbe the excellency of her own disposition, could have afforded a more milder repulse, yet at this time her mind being carried away with such an earnest affection, as may well be comprehended within the title of love, would not suffer her tongue to deliver any other satisfaction. And this was the reason:  
There is a gallant young Shepherd, who some three years agone, having seated himself in Tempe, hath lived there with much happiness, more admiration, but most love, his beauty enticing his good disposition confirming, and his virtue binding unto him, all those with whom at any time he conversed: His rural profession was beautified with a Cittie-government; his homely attire had a courtly fashion, and his plainest discourses were interlyned with witty and moral constructions: his words were quaint, his behaviour civil, and his desires lofty, insomuch that he was called the courtly shepherd, or the noble Pastor, exceeding all his fellowe-Shepheards, excepting only the most rare Thirsis, whom he could exceed in nothing but in the bliss of affection.  
This worthy Swain had long time before Thirsis came into these parts with his noble designs, which promised more than could be comprehended in a country fortune; had so won the heart of the excellent Princess Melidora, that she did not disdain to call him her servant, and with many graces did so adorn his blissfulness, that his lofty fortunes might well contend with any Monarch's greatness, insomuch that love, who had ever lived prisoner in her eyes, began to dart his beams into the shepherds heart, and with a wanton recoiling, to look now and then down into her bosom, making his daily service the witness of his assured love; and her Favour an Herald to pronounce that by possibility she might love. Now it happened that this day being the great Sabbath of Diana, the Princess had promised her Shepherd Diatassan (for so was he named) after the Rites and Ceremonies were finished, to meet him in a most pleasant Arbour, seated in a delicate grove, dedicated to the Goddess Chloris, to which none but herself only had private access, there to discourse unto him the order, the pomp, and the manner of the Ceremonies, which were due to the great Goddess, and to that end she was walked forth as before I have rehearsed: and being now entered into the Arbour, finding her Shepherd not come, taking up a Lute which lay upon a bed of flowers hard by, to whose sweet sound coupling her more sweeter voice, she sang this Sonnet.  

I Do not now complain of my disgrace,  
O cruel Love, O love too cruel crossed,  
Nor of the hour, season, time, nor place,  
Nor of my foil for any freedom lost,   

Nor of my mind by my misfortune daunted:  
Nor of my wit, with overweening struck,  
Nor of my sense by any sound enchanted,  
Nor for the force of fiery pointed look:   

Nor of the steel that sticks within my wound,  
Nor of my thoughts by worse thoughts displaced,  
Nor of the life I labour to cofound,  
But I complain that being thus disgraced,  
Fired, feared, fettered shot through, slain,  
My death is such as I dare not complain.   
She had scarce made an end of her song, before the courtly Shepherd Diatassan entered into the grove, blushing to see his absence condemned of all negligent errors by her presence, humbly besought her Majesty to pardon his slowfooted attendance, alleging the care of his fold, the fear of suspect, and many other pretty excuses: but above all, he alleged the loss of a most dainty lamb, which he had most curiously brought up, and wherewith Melidora was much delighted to play, saying that morning, the cruel wolf had stolen it away, insomuch that he pursuing the chase, took the wolf at his prey, and then had no remedy but to kill him that had killed her playfellow. Melidora smiling, made him answer, that if she had not some constant trials of his loyalty, she should fear lest some violent mischance would either kill, or take him from her service; but he whose fervent love could induce no cold suspicion to prophesy his apostasy with more than an usual earnestness, besought her not to make doubt of his faithfulness, vowing by Heaven, by Earth, by Love, by the golden treasure of his hopes, by all his comforts past, & by all his delights to come, and lastly by her sacred self, who was the great volume which contained the chronicle of his fortunes, that no time, no chance, no change, nor no admiration, should take from his name the title of her eternal Admirer, wishing ruin to his body, infamy to his name, and immortal death to his soul, when his pure thoughts should be blotted with the stain of disloyalty; and with that kissing her hand, and shedding some tears thereon, desired her not to suspect him till she was inwardly resolved, absolutely to kill him; which she promising to perform, they sat down together upon a flowery bank within the Arbour, whilst Diatassan calling to remembrance her former promise, humbly besought her to tell him the manner of Diana's ceremonies, what was the pomp, the show, and the order of their sacrifice: to which she thus answered. To tell thee (my Shepherd) at length without omission, all the stately proceed endue this day to our great Goddess, neither could a summers day, nor Winter's night, outlast my discourse: wherefore we will omit it till a more convenient time for such an argument; only one accident as worthy note as love itself is worthy memory, which fell out this day in the Temple, I will impart unto thee, and thus it was.  
Amongst all the Nymphs and Maids, which this day made the Altars of the great Diana smoke with perfumed Sacrifice, I spied a virgin, who bestirring herself like a busy toiling Bee, exceeded many of her consorts in praying, in sensing, in sacrificing, and in singing: by her gestures I could not suspect her knowledge, her garments I knew not, her face because of her vail I saw not, and for her speech like the rest, it witnessed unto me that she was a stranger. After her sacrifices were ascended, & she for her more divinne contemplation, retired into a private seat, myself closely stealing from the rest of the Maidens, came and devoutly joined me to her side, where I had not long seated myself, but I might perceive she cast many pretty gazes upon me, such as by the interpretation of affection are said to carry love in their glances; at first I wondered, but at last I encountered her look for look, making love an excellent linguist only by demonstration; and allbe the race was but short, yet was there a large field for love to tilt in betwixt each of our gazings; my face being covered all over with this vail, had only two loop-holes left for mine eyes to look through, From whence (said this Nymph) she saw such heavenly glimpses issue, as matched the Sun, which straightened betwixt two clouds, darts into the world fair lovely beams of enduring brightness; I told her, if in me there were any of those glories, they only were borrowed from her, and from her beauty: with that she whispering in mine ear, demanded my name? but I wring her softly by the silken hand (and to make myself some pretty sport by this instant accident) told her that I was a Shepherd, not a Nymph, and that only for her sake I had disguised myself, fearing not the danger of my life, because I had none but by her sufferance, meaning in this Temple and at this holy time, to consecrate my chaste thoughts to her service. She again demanded of me my name, and I answered her it was Diatassan; And I pray you Lady (said Diatassan) what answered she to that name? Upon the knowledge of that name (said Melidora) we concluded, that this night when the Nymphs do come to fetch water at Minerva's spring, she shall come the hindmost in the train, and that I waiting for her in a mazie Thick adjoining, shall as soon as I perceive the Nymphs to return home, discover myself to her, who feigning odd trifles to stay behind them, would administer unto me all advantage of further conference.  
Much other talk we had, but in the end when the rites were ended, she sighing departed; my smiles ready to break into open laughter to see the poor fool so cunningly deceived; But what was her name (said Diatassan) she is called (said Melidora) Apheleia: O what sport will this be for thee & me, when in the cooling shade amongst the rest of thy fellow Shepherds, we pass away the time with toys, with Riddles, and with witty purposes: I tell thee this action will be worthy of a conceited eclogue. And as they were thus discoursing, a Page belonging unto the Princess, came into the Arbour & brought her word that all the Foresters were attending her Majesty at the Lodge, to know in what part of the forest she intended the next day to hunt, that orderly preparation might be made for her sports? with that the Princess arising with such a gesture as did envy the times swiftness, she told her shepherd she must be gone, but he desiring leave to attend her, she earnestly forbade him, saying the tutret love is the cottage hate, and so she departed, only accompanied with her Page to her own Castle.  
As soon as the Princess was gone, Diatassan revolving in his mind upon the adventure she reported, grew into an amazed ecstasy, Desire & Wonder breeding in his soul a thousand Chimeras and strange imaginations; one while fear paid him, least doing injury to the Princess, he might kill his love and Favour: then presently Desire inflames him to behold her whose love living upon his name is derided by fortune. Another while Doubt takes him prisoner, Reason denying the mind to have such insubstantial apprehensions; but then Wonder, resolves him, and bids him but look into the work of his own minds creation: thus being carried awhile with these variable thoughts, in the end he absolutely concludeth with himself, that he will go to Minerva's Spring, and in the grove adjoining, shelter himself to try what event will issue of the former passage; And so in the end he did, where having rested till the suns departure made the night proclaim her government, he might behold six beautiful Nymphs with Golden Flagons in their hands, who commning unto Minerva's spring, before they would dip their vessels into the holy water, they in a most comely order walking about the Fountain, sang this Canzonet.  

THose foolish women are accursed,  
That make of Love a God (though blind)  
And under him the worst of worst,  
Cover the follies of the mind.   

For us we do detest out right,  
The vulgar maxim as untrue:  
That he should be a God of might,  
Who breeds the cares makes all souls rue.   

That takes all reason from desire,  
And piece-meal tears the troubled heart,  
Being a most consuming fire,  
That wastes our inward heavenly part.   

But worse accursed are they by much,  
That on men's beauties fix their eye,  
And think no heavenly comfort such,  
As that which in fair looks doth lie.   

Alas they do too much forget  
That love and men are of one mind,  
Busy to lay that cruel net,  
Which thralls the simple foolish blind:  
Returning them most loss at all,  
That loves the best, and is most thrall.   
After they had sung this song, every one dipping her golden Flagon in the Fountain, after some little intercourse of speech, wherein one gave praises to the Goddess Minerva, another commended the virtues of the water, and others the ordinances of those Ceremonies: In the self-same comely order as they came, they now began to return. But Diatassan, who during all the time of their abode, had with a curious eye beheld the hindmost Nymph of the train, began to read within the fair story of her beauties, many remembrances of those ancient thoughts, which had long ago (in the Maydentime of his first love) infinitely surprised him. Many times, his eyes told him they saw nothing but that sight which they had most dearly loved. His thoughts told him they were enriched with no new cogitations, and his heart affirmed, that but that Image there was none in it perfectly engraven; to be plain, she so much resembled a worthy Nymph, whom in his first youth he had loved most sincerely, till injurious Death had made a divorce betwixt their affections, that even now his revolting eyes began cowardlike to yield to the assault of her beauty: and not content to yield alone, did so persuade his heart, that he covetous of new honour, subjecteth all that was in him to her obedience; Melidora was now in his mind but like that picture which Zuxis desired to see under the painted sheet, which was merely nothing, as having no place or being all that he was, was but only a scroll of this new affection: And now beholding Apheleia, both with slow pace, and some sleight excuse loiter behind the rest of her fellow nymphs, he discovered himself, and with a gentle pace overtaking her, after his downcast looks, and some trembling words, had like a preface told her, his talk must be all of love; taking up her hand, and giving it a lovely kiss, he demanded of her if that hand were not the hand which did prodigally cast into his fruitful breast the fair seed of blooming fancy, whose ripe harvest shall return her million of gains; or tell me fair Nymph (said he) are not these glorious eyes of yours, the warlike Cytadels where all conquering love sits as in his Empire clothed with the rich spoils of many kingly overthrows, and for a triumph hangs out his most beauteous colours? O God they are; & therefore let never any Shepherd fear Ioues thunderbolts, or in their Carols advance the unconquered sword of the God of war, but let them all be amazed with thy beauty, and with that amazement let them record the victories thou hast obtained of the world, of love, and of me thy servant. Well I remember that in the April of my years, I have been sometimes enticed amongst my fellow Shepherds, to taste the delights of youths inventions, and in those delights have delighted to approve the minds of many Maidens, yet never till now have fixed my constant mind of any; till I saw thee I saw not any that could content me, for whose sake I have this day desperately adventured my life by coming disguised into Diana's temple, wherefore (dear Nymph) let the former words which I whispered in thy dainty ears, the mutual agreement of our hither coming, and the due attendance I have performed in my service, as the messengers of pity plead for my merit; and even as with patience I suffer the bitter anguish of my thoughts, so let love and thyself be courteous to my sad destiny. To this she answered; Fair Shepherd, according to mine agreement, here I make good my promise, yet not in such sort that by it thou shalt suppose I stand entangled in those foolish snares which you Thessalians call love: but for it pleased thee (without either Desire in me, or Desert in my perfections) to make so frank and absolute a gift, of thy heart, of thy soul, and of thyself, to rest ever at my disposing, so that it should be utterly unlawful for any but me to give, to retain, to keep, to change, or to dispose any thing within the compass of thine affection, and that all thy thoughts and actions should maiden-like give a modest and sincere attendance upon my will, which sith I see thou dost effectually perform by this new seconds of thy former love, be thou pleased with mine acknowledgement, that I have heard thy love: O but (said he) shall the tender of these my services receive at thy hands no recompense? 'tis recompense enough (said she) that I give credit to thy words, & acceptance to thy service. Why then (said he) let this bondage of my love be like those calm blasts which kindle the fire of delight, whose flame breaking forth into the world, may make us admired of all constant beholders. As she was about to reply unto this speech, she might perceive the rest of the Nymphs looking back, and staying for her company, which occasioning her with a shamefast blushing to break off her conference, she told him, their many words might move many suspicions, which to avoid it was fit that silence should part them, yet (said she) Fair Shepherd, take this little remembrance, and wear it for my sake, and with that she gave him a very fair jewel, wherein was set a most rich Diamond, cut in the fashion of a Sphere or Globe, and about it was writ this word, Mavens moveor, and so she departed.  
But assoon as his eyes had lost her which was their best object, they instantly converted their lookings to her costly favour, on which when he had with many curious surveys a good space meditated, & had to many cross and contrary senses, wrested and expounded the cunning devise; at length constantly beholding the frame of the fair Globe, and marking with what course the reflections, and sparkles like little spheres wound about the foil, which like the earth (the world's centre) stood in the midst of the Mund, he could not forbear to say; Dear Maid, be thou the Sky, & let me be the earth, on whom gentle love may make the morning lights of grace to arise, and give fair glory to my darkness: and although this sullen night make thee withdraw from mine eyes, the beams of thy countenance, O yet let thy favour continually run about me, and how soever I move, let thy love never be removed from me: many other passionate speeches to like effect he uttered, with such a feeling earnestness, that many times he was ready to faint under the weary burden of his new love; but the day having given up all his authority to the nights commandment, and Hope a little easing the thraldom of his senses, seeing new occasions, must give new means to satisfy his long, pleased with those sleight contentments for that time, he departed homeward towards his Cottage, where taking no rest but such as attends the unrest of troubled Lovers, being only accompanied with hopes, with long, with despairs, with jealousies, with ungrounded desires, and passionate lamentations; he wasted the weary time of that too long imagined night. But as soon as the Sun began to strew Roses and Gillyflowers upon the top of the Eastern Mountains, all the Foresters and Shepherds in a most seemly manner, assembled at the lodge where the fair Melidora lay, (Thirsis only excepted) whose cares denied him the comfort of all recreation; And there the Foresters taking their siluer-bound Bugles which hung in rich bautriks overthwart their green liveries, they wound a shrill recheat unto the Princess, as signal of the days ready preparation; but she whose untroubled mind was ever prepared to give entertainment to those worthy sports, issued fourth of her lodge with all the Ladies and Nymphs of Tempe in her train, so royally adorned, that even the Goddess of hunting grew paale for anger to see how much herself was excelled. After she had given a cheerful salutation to all her beholders, & with a quick surveying eye beholding the company, and only missing the Shepherd Diatassan, blushing for fear she should be seen to blush, she commanded them that if all things were in a readiness, they should proceed to the pastimes; with that the Foresters going before with their javelines and darts, and the Shepherds with their hooks guarding each-side of her person, they passed on towards the Woods, where soon after the Hewee was set, the toils pytcht, and the Hounds uncoopled; immediately there was roused a fair and goodly Stag, whose tell-tale feet that were only betrayers of his life, were now made the means, and instruments of his best safety: he was no sooner rousd, and notice thereof given by the sweet redoubling mouths of the hounds, but immediately the Shepherds with their shouts, the Foresters with their horns, and the many tongued Echoes in every corner, made such a delightful music through the hollowness of the elder grown woods, that like the Phirgian consort which stirred up such valiant spirit in Alexander, it elevated up to heaven the minds of the hearers: the beast fled, the hounds pursued, & the Nymphs, Foresters & Shepherds, with several encoragements followed so swiftly, that he which from the top of some high Turret might but have beheld the chase & rechasing, would well have concluded in that sport, the full glory of all other pastimes, But during this sport in which the Nymphs & Shepherds strove by the swiftness of their nimble feet, who should keep nearest to the desired game, it happened that Melidora (who in all things so far excelling, as above all creatures she was most excellent) did so far outstrip all her attendants whatsoever, that not any was able to keep within the view of her swiftness; only one fair Nymph whose name was Ethera sprung of the race of Atalanta, being only a second to the Princess in running, with much labour & more desire kept still the sight of her presence, but as it is ever seen that the violence of pleasure transports our minds and actions beyond the moderation of delight, the desire we have to enjoy, taking from us the ability to make us enjoy, so in this absolutely worthy Princess, her too much earnestness to pursue her sports (being arrested by wearynes) made her now begin to distaste sport, and not she alone was weary, but even the poor hunted beast, first by many countercourses, and oft tappishing, and lastly by taking soil in a great lake not far of, showed how near he was come to the last point of his utter ruin; yet the water not speaking so plain language as the earth, was a means whereby the hounds came to an utter default, which she perceiving, & therewithal calling into her remembrance, how by her following she was fled from all company, having not any near her, either within view or hearing, save only the nymph Ethera, and beholding the place to be both vast & disconsolate, although she would willingly have returned into better safety, yet was her weariness so great, that she was enforced to sit down under the shadow of a fair Myrtle to repose herself for a little season: and during the time that she was there sitting, she entreated the nymph Ethera, either to sing unto her some pretty pastorals, of shepherds loves (which well she knew she could perform) or discourse unto her some pleasant history, which beguiling Fancy might shorten the time, & make their abode less tedious. Ethera as willing to obey as she was worthy to command, told her she had a discourse, which would she vouchsafe to cover within the heavenvly tabernacles of her ears, she should find if not delight, yet infinite wonder; But (said she) if any thing in it should stir offence, I had rather ten thousand times it should perish in my bosom; But Melidora as insuspitious, as she was innocent, desired her to proceed in her discourse, assuring her nothing should be taken in evil part, which was either fit for her bashful nature to deliver, or for her chaste care to entertain. This free charter given to the fair Ethera, she began in this manner to speak unto her.  
Of all the external glories (Madam) wherewith we cloth the outward perfection of all excellent things; there is none of so sovereign authority or controllesse superintendency, as that which we call beauty, because there is nothing wherewith the taste of the eye is at any time delighted, to which we can give a greater Epithiton, then to say it is most beautiful. And so (Madam) of the mind in like fashion, whose excellent knowledges, & divine meditations are but only the inward soul's beauties; adding to the perfit creature but this last of praise, that there is a beautiful mind in a beautiful body; yet this beauty if it stir not in the most judicial beholders the height of admiration is said to be no beauty, for they be vulgar things with which we communicate: they be heavenly or supernatural, which we admire; neither doth beauty by the height of admiration gain the top of her advancement: there is a certain inflamed Desire, which must crown and royalize this Admire with an incomprehensible love, or otherwise there is neither Beauty, neither any Admiration. So that for us women, if the greatest benefit we can beg of Nature be Beauty, if Beauties be Admire, if Admires be love, and love be the worthy end to which we only were created; why do we so rebelliously spurn at our happiness, and like to ambitious usurpers, kick the Diadem with our feet, whose glory being engraven in our hearts, would make us swim bloody seas to attain the possession. This speak I to you (the crown and glory of all Maidens) to whom Nature hath been so prodigal of beauty that I fear for your sake she will prove penurious to all after ages, insomuch that slovenly Art taking upon him Nature's prerogative, will like a lavish tell-tale discover the defects of women's desires, and beauties: O this I say again, I speak unto you, who being most beautiful are most admired, and most of all creatures in the world enthroned, and crowned with an immovable, and constant affection. O Madam, did you but feel the least of those bitter pains, which the most enduring and forlorn Shepherd Thirsis, for your sake only endureth, or did you but know the violence of those immortal flames, which darted from your eyes, like lightning kill ere they be perceived; I know it were impossible for your tender heart not to relent at his passions; let me beseech you then (most divine creature) if you be but as sensible of pains, as you are beautiful to occasion torments; if in that excellent and sacred frame of your body, there was ever felt the touch of all saving pity, to cast one relenting look upon the utter despairing estate of thy most lamentable Shepherd, whereby thy mercy shall be made most mighty, thy sports and pleasures anew revived, & thy delightful Tempe which droops (through his melancholy) spring a fresh, & bring forth sweet Poesies, worthy only of the Muses.  
Ethera had scarcely made an end of these words, when Melidora starting upon her feet, as if she had beheld either the dreadfulness of some monster, or felt the bitter savour of Rue, or Wormwood, Disdain and Anger spreading colours of defiance in the fair Roses of her lily cheeks, souring her countenance with a most lovely sadness, she told the Nymph Ethera, that she had attainted her ears with most blasphemous speeches, the sound whereof, sith she could not take from her memory, yet would she henceforth forever banish herself the company of so unchaste a reporter. What (said she) hath Thirsis seeed thee to be immodest, or hast thou seen in mine outward gestures that appearance of folly, which might encourage thee to these monstrous persuasions? Diana forbidden. O heavens let me not live when my life shall presage I will fall from virtue: and as for Thirsis, where before I did but only hate his love, now I hate him, thyself, and both your memories: and with that offering to departed away, before Ethera could either make excuse for him, or Apology for herself, there suddenly rushed out of the woods a monstrous man, or a man mor hideous than any monster; his name was Demagoras, a man whose stature did so far exceed the greatest proportion of men then living, that more than doubling their features, he was held for an invincible Giant: his strength was greater than his limbs, and his mind fortified by his strength, made him so infinitely bold, that he durst to adventure any danger how desperate soever; his pride had no bound, yet would his cruelty have boasted of more larger limits. What shall I say, such alone he was, as (to say truth) was utterly all evil. This Damagoras hath lived about the walks and borders of Tempe more than this three years, making his revenues by the spoil, robbery, and pillage of the poor Shepherds, and lurking in sundry vast Caves, which for that purpose he holdeth, doth hourly and daily annoy, and waste, not only Tempe, but all Thessalia, allbe the country hath at diverse times set out whole armies to hunt him, but all in vain, so great hath been his craft and policy.  
This Demagoras whose very presence was able to have appaaled the stoutest resolution, had now stricken such deadly fear into the mind of the noble Princess; that like an innocent Dove, over whom the covering Falcon threateneth more than an ordinary destruction, she stood so pitifully amazed, that fear having taken from her mind the remembrance of all advantage, or safety, she had no power to stir: whilst the rude slave, like a greedy Cormorant seized upon her lily hand, whose very touch might well have told him how much too precious it was for so wild and so incivil an embracement. After he had caught her thus within the compass of his power, shaking his grizely uncurled locks, which seemed never to have been acquainted with any manner of comeliness, he triumphed of his conquest, as much as if he had given an overthrow to the whole world: and indeed the world could be no more lamentably deformed, then to have thus the only jewel thereof, (the admirable Melidora) in so woeful an estate of sudden destruction: for after the inhuman wretch had Lion-like ceased her within his paws, allbe his only desire to do ill was attractive enough to draw him to the uttermost of illness; yet beholding the excellency of her heavenly countenance, whose chaste beams were to the virtuous: schools to instruct modesty, and correct viciousness: now to him were firebrands of lust, and unnatural motives to most bloody tyranny, which only out of their own excellencies, could but work this alteration, that he whose Fury was ever his orator, and Will his law; was now at first content to entreat, what of all things was most impossible to be granted, I mean the divine treasure of her love, and the fruition thereof, which the savage monster told her had taken such fast root in his degenerate soul, that it was not possible for him to live and endure either delay or denial. To which the Princess made him answer, that how ever the eye is said to entertain affections in moments; yet for her own part, her eye was so true a tenant to her heart, that it durst not give harbour to any object, which of her heart was not first esteemed most worthy; wherefore she humbly besought him, that for that time she might return in safety, and if hereafter her eye would satisfy her heart, it was likely she would not conceal her long: the villain with this answer grew so enraged, that rudely shaking her by the tender arm, like a Northern blast tearing a slender Tamoriske, he said: Disdainful Maid, thou that art the horror of Tempe, and the wonder of so many amorous Shepherds, thinkest thou that either my love shall endure control, or my desire to be excellently impious, lose me this opportunity to be notably infamous? it cannot damsel, it cannot, I have vowed the spoil of thy good name, & the destruction of thine honour, from which neither jones thunder, nor Apollo's darts that slew the Serpent Python, is able to bring thee any ransom: and the more willing I am to be thy persecuter, by how much I shall gain that celestial jewel, which through the world is blazed of the greatest valuation. And here the Monster began to fold his arms about her ivory body, from which she nimbly delivering herself, fell down upon her knees like a devout Saint, praying to a damnable Idol, and humbly besought him to take away her life, rather than to attaint her honour; in which merciful proceeding he should bind her spotless soul to do him service in a better kingdom; O excellent man (said she) let me not survive my happiness; make me not wretched by a weary life; but sith the uttermost of revenge is but death, let my death at thy hands make for all my disdains, a deserved (though bloody) satisfaction.  
These words which might have moved in any marble breast, some commiseration, like oil into fire did make more mad the flame of his raging, so that he solemnly once more swore the performance of his detestable desire; at which sentence she shrieking out, and with weak force arming an invincible heart, began to struggle and contend for the saving of that preciousness, which lost is too precious ever to be recovered; to her struggling she added such lamentable outcries, such piercing sorrows, and such deafening clamours, that even Heaven & earth were grieved with her infinite torment, and as they are commonly seen in such cases, they did add unto her vigour (though not such force as to free her from captivity) yet so much blessed fortitude that she yet preserved both her honour, and all the jewel sights or imaginations belonging to her sacred body, free from the sullying of so barbarous a Traitor.  
Whilst the Princess and the Monster were in this deadly strife thus impatiently contending, poor Ethera whose fearful soul boded her no better fortune, like one distraught or lunatic, taking this advantage, ran into the Woods, & with infinite clamours cried for help to the Gods, to men, to beasts, to any thing, to all things; crying with such loud pitteousnesse, that every Echo there about in pity of her ruth did double and redouble her noise and lamentations, insomuch that Thirsis w, ho that day more to avoid company, then to companion any delight, being walked fourth into this vast solitary place, as fittest receptakle for disdained sorrows, happened to cross Ethera; and demanding what might occasion in her this hideous screeching? she even distraught with woefulness could answer him nothing, but help, help, rape, murder, force, Melidora, Melidora: she had no sooner named Melidora, and with such precedent words as did signify either her death, or danger, his hair began to start up, his heart swelled, his eyes sent forth fire, & his tongue cried out; dear Nymph, where, when, how, which way, what place, what slave? O satisfy my longing, but she running from him, and he pursuing her to be better instructed, she at last brought him where he beheld as much, and more than she had told, or he imagined; for even now the Princess being fore-wearyed with striving, and fore-done with the tyrannous rage of her enemy, not being able longer to resist, she fell into a swoon, but the villain having tied her by the golden hairs of her head fast to a Cypress tree, held her from falling to the earth, so that she hung like an unmatchable picture, wherein sorrow and despair was most lively presented; and had not the love-thrald Shepherd come in that auspicious hour, the Villain might have attained the worst of his foulest wishes; But it was not an amazement, it was not a fury, neither was it a madness which then took hold upon Thirsis, but even a celestial valour, in which all the glistering Tapers of honour might be disecrned, which bearing him upon the immortal wings of Resolution, made him with so glorious a courage, assault the inhumae Demagoras, that having only but his sheephook which he towered above his head, he threatened more than all the Lances which guard the Palaces of Princes. Now when Demagoras saw the Shepherd coming to assail him, he left the Princess, & taking up a massy club of Steel, which ever be boar about with him, he met the shepherd, thinking with one blow both to punish his pride for daring; and to finish the combat which he scorned to account a contention. But the Shepherd as nimble in his deliver action, as he was valiant and powerful in destributing blows, at the first encounter with a slip avoided the downfall of Demagoras stroke; & in the same instant making good again his former ground, gave Demagoras such a blow upon the shoulder, that it made his arm slothful in advancing his club to revenge the pain he suffered; But wrath & disdain, or a disainfull wrath, that he should meet with an incounterour, madding his soul, caused him strike at the Shepherd with such fury, that had it light upon, either his head or body, it had utterly confounded all the rest of his members, but as the former, so he did, avoided the second, returning back such heavy interest, that Demagoras was sometimes ready to sink under the burden. Thus betwixt them began a fearful and dreadful combat, the noise of their fierce blows awaking the Princess from her swoon, whose eyes being opened to see the amorous shepherd thus engaged for her sake, begun to overflow their banks with new tears, not tears of grief for her bondage, but that her delivery should be more irksome than the basest servitude. The valiant shepherds rare valour, his Princelike carriage, & his infinite danger, wrought but this in her mind, that so her honour might be unstained, she rather wished death then this likely deliverance, as hating that life, which to him she could not affect, must of necessity be engaged. Whilst thus with these thoughts she was variously carried, wishing health to the Shepherd, whose health she only confounded; the fight more and more augmented, & Thirsis had with his hook drawn much blood from Demagoras, which to revenge, Demogaras bringing all his forces into his arms, he struck at Thirsis such a counterblowe, that a little glancing upon his head, put him into a little stamering amaze: which perceived by Demagoras and much doubting by former proof the requital of such payment; taking advantage of that stroke, turned his back and ran with all his power into the thickest woods where cursing and banning both the heavens and his fortunes, he hide himself from the view of all creatures. After Thirsis had in his pursuit both lost the sight of his enemy, and the hope of his revenge, he returned back to the Princess, whom when he found in that manner bound like an innocent sacrifice upon a profane Altar, he threw himself upon his knees before her & said. Goddess of my life, pardon I beseech thee, my presumption in that mine unworthy hands dare be so bold as to touch the seemly tresses of thy golden hair: alas it is thine own danger, and the cruel knots knit by the most hatefullest hand that ever profaned holy relic, which compelling me to lose them, must excuse mine arrogance, And with that untying her fair hair, and setting her at new liberty, with a greedy eye, that was never satisfied with looking, he gazed so earnestly upon her, that in the end imagining her eye did chide his eye, for his over curious wonder, turning his face away, he thus said unto himself.  
O Gods whilst Disdain & Rigour drew black clouds of despair betwixt the Princess and mine affection, how me thinks the Sun hath dissolved them and made my Star shine fair upon my misseyre: alas it may be it is done but to this end, that when I shall draw near unto the heavenly fire of her beauty, I may there consuming end my days with felicity; how ever even as the bird that is entangled in the snare of the fouler, doth at the last gasp take delight to hear that sound which brought her to imprisonment, so do her looks (which brought this bitter anguish to my heart) not only refresh my senses in their dispairefull extremities, but comforteth my soul when she is ready to take her flight from my dying body. And whilst he was thus talking in himself, the Princess (O that so fair should have so foul a fault found in them) without thanks, without acknowledgement, or without leave-taking, departed from his presence, not so much fearing the danger she had so lately escaped, as desirous to avoid his presence, whom sith she could not affect, she could not acknowledge any bond wherein she stood indebted; which when the woeful Shepherd by his turning about perceived, although he inquired of the Nymph Ethera (who then was as grateful as the Princess was cruel) whither the Goddess of his fortunes was departed, he could not choose but let the very thought of her unkindness strike him to the soul, with such intolerable agonies, that although his sighs, his sobs, his tears, his broken heart, and his groaning spirit, were testimonies sufficient of her too much ingratitude, yet even striving with life, he made his tongue deliver these dolours.  
And is she gone said he? is there no courtesy, no speech, no favour, no thanks? O you immortal Gods, and thou great Nature that of nothing have made this universal habitation, how negligent have you been in the framing of her most delicate composure, placing in her all the divine graces that can outwardly embellish and adorn the most excellentest substance that ever was created; and leaving the sacred intellectual parts of her understanding soul (where Pity, that is only proper to her sex should hold his continual residence) utterly neglected, abandoned, and forsaken; but alas, alas, it is not your omission but my misery; not her want of pity, but my poverty: in desert I am unfortunate, alas I am most miserable, which sith mine overburdened heart can no longer undergo to ease it, and please her, thus finish my days. And even as he was thus speaking, he ran his head with all the strength and power of his body so furiously against that tree, from which Melidora was but even a little before loosed; that all be the hand of some supernal power (who no doubt in that hour reserved him for far greater happiness) did compel the blow not to take that wished effect the woeful Shepherd desired, which was utterly to have finished love and life in a moment, yet had it so great efficacy, that it struck him backward stone dead to all imaginations.  
Ethera beholding this bloody tragedy, being as full of pity as the Shepherd was of despair, she ran unto him, and laying his head upon her lap, after she had wiped his wound, and covered it with part of her silken garments, with long chaffing and rubbing him, she at last brought him again to life; which was no sooner revived, but accompanied with his servant Memory, the Shepherd lifting up his heavy ties, and looking upon the busy Nymph, he said: Alas Ethera, have I not pain enough, but that thou also wilt give new life to my passions; thou art unkind, alas thou art unkind; and here plucking out his knife, he offered a second assault upon his breast, which the Nymph withstanding, she thus with a friendly chiding began to admonish him: Fie Thirsis fie (said she) thou shalt not thus unnaturally rob us of delight, and thyself of honour; for shame let not one tempest make thee despair of the summers beauty: what foolish sailor will for one storm strike sail, and trust no more to Sea-fortune? why man if every blast should bring thy sheep to the fold, how shouldst thou profit, or they prosper? But thou hast endured no tempest, no storm, no blast; it is only calm silence which hath ever been construed, a consent or acknowledgement, which by thy misinterpretation, brings thee to this malignity: I imagine her bashful Nature, which without blushing could not deliver thee the desert of thy merit, by her dumb departure, hath left thee to suppose she thought as much or more than thine own will would have desired; and as she was thus expostulating with the wounded Shepherd, a grave Swain well stricken in years (whose name was Opicus) having amongst the rest of the Foresters and Shepherds, met with the Princess, and heard of her adventure past; leaving his fellows to attend her to her Lodge, he came to the place where Thirsis lay, whom for the excellent virtues he had ever beheld in him, he loved most entirely, whom assoon as Ethera beheld, she called him unto her, and showing him the pitifulness of his estate, and the cause why his estate was so pitiful, she besought him to join with her, either in counsel or comfort, sith she was persuaded that if his despair continued, his life could not be of endurance; Opicus as full of wisdom as then Thirsis was of discomfort, after he had showed him the ugliness of his sin, and the unnaturalness of a selfe-combate, proving all pusylanimitie, stupidity, and blockishness in such a monstrous conflict, in as much as the mind foregoeth thereby Hope, which is the golden treasure of our understanding, firm Trust, which is the assured rock of all mortal safety, and divine Love, which bindeth together all our joys, all our desires, and all our prospirities: Now for this other love (said Opycus) which hath little or no community with this heavenly love, I mean this love of beauty, O Gods that ever men should be so sottish as to seek it through their soul's perditions! But I will not distaste thee Thirsis by chiding thy follies, but rather confirm thee to attain wisdom; I tell thee, in this eye-love there is no impossibility, but the continuance of our affections, nor no main assurance worthy any certain despair, but our own furies; for how ever the tide run, it falleth as it floweth: and this deluge of thy sorrow, Time can make to be a worker of thy best comfort, I tell thee, Time brings to pass mighty things of infinite importance, even those unconquered Beauties, which makes a conquest of all the world's best hearts, forcing sense to wonder, and souls to Idolatrize, shall in the end strike the gallant top-sails of their glories, to the great Majesty of uncontrolled Time, even that impetious Time who captives more subjects with his swift wings, than Cupid with his sharp arrows; even he that wins us unto him, when he shows us his back, and flies from us. Lo, even whilst I am in talking, I feel the power of his great authority, whereby he abates the overflow of swelling youth, dulls the keen edge of every sharp piercing eye, make hoarse the sweet sound of the silver voice, & mars the enchanting Rhetoric which hath so oft been broken between the fair Pearl & Rubies beauty; it spoils the wealth of art & the pomp of wit; so that like as we see overthrown nobility, losing their robes of honour, not to disclaim the cottage garmtens; (in such sort, than even the Princess Melidora, herself in token of the true homage she oweth to consuming Time) forsake and disclaim from all those eye charming graces, of which with such curiosity she had boasted. Thirsis no sooner heard him name Melydora but as if that name had been an alarun to awaken his too sleepy sense; raising up himself and looking Opicus in the face, he said: I tell thee Shepherd Melidora lives not within the reach of Fortune, neither can Time (were his power redoubled) make her immortal flower shed one leaf from her branches. I tell thee, she like the top of that fair Laurel, which growing by the Altar of Apollo, holds both the frost and fire in contempt & derision. What Swan shall sing that shall not sound forth her praises? What Swain shall Pipe, and not make her name his music? nay I tell thee even Time himself, when he hath finished his bravest conquest, shall bring unto her the honour of his triumph, and having no more to overcome, shall hang up unto her beauty, his murdering, Sith for a monument.  
Opicus seeing him thus violently carried away with unreasonable reasoning, and finding ●●at contention did but rather aggravate than mitigate, loath that melanchollye should incur the title of Fury, leaving all other exhortations, said only unto him, that sith his constancy was an impediment to all persuasions; there was in his conceit no better means then by mild entreaty to move some Mercy; Alas, alas (said Thirsis) entreaty is as bootless as my Love is hopeless: dost thou not know the famous Shepherd Mopsus, he that understands the language of the Birds, the Virtue of stones, the nature of herbs, and what ever else can be covered under the habit of secret wisdom? He, O he I tell thee, hath long since calculated my nativity, & hath found the opposition of my Stars to bided me nothing but misery, assuring me my love shall ever be dejected and despised; this hath he prophesied, and this must be believed; to these words Opicus thus replied.  
I tell thee Thirsis, Mopsus can command both words and fortunes, but they be all as false and vain, as himself is foolish and unlearned: therefore I charge thee, let not thy diligent care give credit to his idle Oracles, but opposing his maxims, thou shalt make thyself able to discern his falsehoods: for proof whereof, note but attentively this tale I shall deliver.  
At such time as the healthful toil of my shepherds life, and the homely grossness of my country cheer, began to grow irksome and unpleasant to my fantastical taste; there sprang in me an earnest desire to behold the City government, & that triumphant magnificence, which in Prince's Courts makes men Angels, and kings Gods; But Mopsus seeking to withdraw my mind from those too high knowledges, thus went about to persuade me,  
Beware, beware (said he) vain man, to what end thou dyrectes thy journey: I tell thee thou goest unto a place where craft springs, colours flourish, and devices swarm; where faces can alter their favours, tongues change their speech, and Slimy bodies stick to the painted fortunes of raised Potentates; where guilty men are made golden Idols, Flattery soothed by detraction, oaths by perjuries, and treason by friendship, Offices made subject to crimes, and counsels to blood, ignorance attended by Pride, pride by Riot, and Riot by civil and domestic Garboils. O fly from this place from whence Envy hath expelled friendship, and Ambition banished the zeal of ancient piety, where slaves live with toil, Princes with fear, and even Kings themselves with uncertain safety: make not thyself a companion with greatness, it is worse than Atlanta's Castle or Trophonius dungeon, for even in those Places dwell those alluring Sisters, whose enchanting melody makes strangers cleave to the Rocks: there shalt thou apprehend mountains of gold, yet shalt thou but find only Glass; Each Turret in a Prince's Palace hath a several tongue: each Wall a sound, and each vaulted roof a distinct pronunciation; neither do they echo like sound divided words, but repeat whole sentences, yea many times more than was either spoke or imagined; Beauty there like the Cockatrice persuades, ensnares, and then confoundeth; all things are beyond capacities, poison in Golden Vessels, treason in close hearts, and deep underminings in simple seeming understandings. Therefore if thou wilt be governed by my knowledge, either lock up thy lips and thine eyes, when thou shalt behold greatness; or staying thy progress, live securely in thy country habitation; Lo Thirsis this was his counsel, and these were the Aphorisms of his divinity: And didst thou go (said Thirsis) and didst thou despise so grave an admonition? did I go (replied Opicus) yes, I went and I shall never repent the worthiness of so notable a journey; for there I found craft had no ears, false faces had no love, and flatterers were but the fools at Prince's Tables. I saw Ambition headless, Riot comfortless, and dissension houseless, I saw Treason tormented by loyalty, Policy confounded by Religion, and perjury branded in the face with an iron of infamy: In brief, I saw no evil but evil avoidable: yet there I saw many fair Swans, whose songs me thought did equalize or outgo either Ister, Poe, or Doven: there I saw many fair Nymphs, whose unpolished perfections made nature admirable. There I saw many celestial Sirens, many lights, many Goddesses, and many Graces, even there I heard those excellent sounds, whose bewitching, and heart-pleasing tunes, made me stand distraught with delight and amazement; what shall I say? I beheld more excellent objects than I could imagine, yet not so many as I desired might live ever in my prospect. I saw a people more civil than the Athenians, a Senate more wise than the Romans, and a Nobility more glorious than all the ancient wotrhyes; but above all, I saw a God or man, or at least a most Godly man, who with the shaking of his hand, ruling the sway of many kingdoms; by his gate, his gesture and his almighty Majesty, seemed better than Numa, stouter than Caesar, greater than Alexander; his sword I saw was the guard of virtue, his Sceptre the glory of peace, & his Crown the Garland of prosperity: there was no Art but in his knowledge, no knowledge but in his coceite, and no conceit but in his song only; his presence me thought was brighter than day, & his countenance gave a glory to the Firmament, O how my heart did dance in my bosom when I beheld his presence! my soul drunk Nectar from his eyes, and even then me thought those heavenly numbers began to flow in my brain, which making me despise the rustic melody of the homely Pastors, hath made me ambitious, to sing of him and of his glorious actions: nay, thou thyself knowest Thirsis, that allbe I am returned back unto my Cottage, yet have I been desirous to raise mine Oaten harmony higher than a shepherds thought, or a Country construction; and Trumpetlike to sound unto all the corners of the world, the great power of his eternal name; but as thou seest over straining myself (as being altogether unable to match the surmounting height of his greatness) I cracked my voice, and have ever since become hoarse and unrespected: this I deliver unto thee, that thou mayest understand as Mopsus hath been deceived in his former speculations, so he may err in his present judgements, and melidora's favour may falsify his prophesy. Woe is me (said Thirsis) where shall I begin to enter this Labyrinth, or how shall I untie the Gordian that can find no end to lose it? By gifts (said Opycus) for they be availing Orators. Alas (said Thirsis) there is no gift worthy her acceptance: Gold is but Oar, being compared with her hair; Diamonds are but Glass, when her eyes do sparkle upon them; can any Pearl be so otient as her teeth, or any Ruby so cherry as her lip? her neck is whiter than my flock, and softer than the down of Turtles. Honey is made sweet by her words; Roses borrow beauty from her cheeks, and the goodliest Apples are made round by the two round balls that are couched in her bosom: to conclude, an eternal spring doth flourish in her looks, casting abroad into the world all the excellent perfumes of natural sweetness, insomuch that this other day I saw a pretty Bed, which toiling from bloom to bloom to gather her honey burden, light on melidora's dimpled chin, with as great pride as if it had been a flower, worthy only the Hesperian Orchard, and being there, sucked for honey with as busy labour, as if she had been in the Hybean Gardens, or the Pestalian Rosaries: whilst envy made me cry out of my fortune, that I was not so happy as that little creature. And as he was thus speaking, he fell into a most extreme and bitteer weeping; which to assuage, the Nymph Ethera earnestly besought him, that since he could not abate woe, yet to endure woe with more patience; and for the love of heaven, and for her love, whom as heaven (said she) thou regardest, be this once directed by my counsel, which if it do not profit, yet cannot bring thee to no greater peril then that wherein thou already standest: and this it is.  
There is belonging unto Fans Chapel, a Priest that is holy, wise, discreet, and sober; one that hath skill in charms, and knowledge in spells, that hath the spirit of truth, and the gift of prophecy; his abode thou knowest, and of his integrity thou hast heard; with him I will persuade so effectually, that to morrow coming abroad, he shall vouchsafe thee conference, where I doubt not, but either his counsel shall persuade, or his cunning attain the uttermost end of thy best hopes, to what purpose (said Thirsis) shall I trouble his knowledge, when myself knows her chaste heart is sixth upon a more worthy object? She loves Diatassan, alas she loves him; I know it, (answered Ethera) and I know Diatassan loves Apheleia, but let that rest in their bosoms, be thou only governed by my rule, and my life shall sooner end than I will end to labour thy contentment. Thirsis unwilling to offend her, whose all carefulness was wholly to please him, with submissive obedience, yielded to all her entreaties, vowing to commit no outrage upon himself, till he had tried the success of her counsels, and so rising from the ground, and being conducted by Opycus, he returned home to his cabin.  
Ethera as soon as she was departed from Thirsis, allbe she had a busy mind in a weary body, yet would she not leave searching up and down, from hill to dale, from groan to wood, by the Arbours, by the Springs; by the Meadows, by the Rivers, and all to find out the amorous Sheppheard Diatassan. At last in an obscure thicket she spied where he lay, and with him another Pastor named Cosmo, of whom as soon as her eye had taken a perfit knowledge, with silent pace and soft steps, such as could not betray her walking, she approached so near them, that shadowing herself under the covert of a slender Poplar, she might well hear and understand all their speeches, which at first proceeding from Diatassan, were full of passionate complaints, and doubtful long, till Cosmos (who as cares comforter) lay to control his sorrow, desired him to show what sudden storm it was that had so soon darkened the bright day of his happiness? to which Diatassan with a heavy sigh answered, that he had of late beheld in these woods a Nymph so like unto a dead Lady, whom in his first youth he had infinitely adored, that even as her living Image was lively in her perfections, so every wound in him, which was closed by her death, opens as oft as he beholds her, and bleeds as freshly as if it had been she, and no other by whom his heart had been wounded. Of what name is she (said Cosmo) or when came she in-into these walks that you have but seen her so lately? Hath she not used our Temples? hath she not frequented our May-sports? or hath she not been present at any of our Pastorals? Her name (replied Diatassan) is Apheleia, but for her artynall in these woods, or frequent with our delights, it hath been but lately (my Cosmo) yet soon enough I fear, and too soon to work my overthrow: Have you had any conference with her said Cosmo? once (answered Diatassan) and then I found in her a Majestical love, full of chaste severity, yet covered with the humble vail of life-pleasing Pity; I found in her a jealous honour, yet a bountiful courtesy; she displayed no signs of Hope, yet beheld I nothing to make me despair: to be brief, in the midst of this indifferency, she gave me this doubtful favour, behold it my Cosmo; And with that he showed him the fair Ring, which she had formerly bestowed upon him, on whose curious devise and workmanship, as they were with labouring minds inwardly beholding: see, see (said Diatassan) this Motto, this Manens moveor, my Cosmo, is it that only torments and distempereth me; one while my thoughts gives my heart intelligence that it should approve her to be constant, steady and immovable, howsoever she turn or wind about my wretched fortune; even like the glorious frame of heaven, which with his countercourse ever returneth to the first point of his beginning; This thought is no sooner finished in my conceit, but a new springs up, and then Imagination tells me, that she only to my sight stands fixed and unmoved, yet like the celestial bodies moves with such sortecie, that we shall sooner feel the change then behold the motion: these and a thousand such cogitations, are the continual hammers, which beating upon the anvil of my heart, disquiet my senses, and take all rest from my slumbers: which to reconcile or remove, I would become a slave, either to Time or Opinion.  
Etherae at these words, perceiving the Qu. was given her, which must let lose her language, starting from the place of her abode, presented herself even to the sight and presence of the two Shepherds; and first under the cloak of careful a'mine, and obsequious love, covering the unexpectance of her approach, and the danger of her sudden intrusion; she briefly told Diatassan with some flattering circumstances, how much she honoured his virtue, respected his quiet, and desired the satisfaction of his best long; therefore (said she) fair Shepherd, although thou didst not see me, yet have I heard thy sorrows, and long since suspected thy heavy plight; which to help, I am now content thou shalt esteem me rude: wherefore if it please thee to accept of my counsel, I will direct thee into so fair a path, as shall without amazement or danger, bring thee to the full end of thy wishes.  
Diatassan, who had he had his counsels in his bosom, might have proved more dainty in discharging them; now seeing they were revealed, like an infant courtesan, who trembling at the first touch of sin, grows by use impudent in sin; being altogether insuspitious, kissing Ethera's fair hand, told her, that if either her knowledge could discharge his doubtfulness, or her counsel direct him through the blind paths of his intricate Love, that she should not only make him an ever admirer of her virtues; but a man proud to be entituled her Servant. Ethera as proud of this insinuation, as counning to preserve her advantage, thus said to Diatassan; There is (quoth she) fair Shepherd, not far from this place, and hard adjoining to the foot of the Mountain Ossa, an obscure and ancient grove of Pines, of Cedars, and of wild Olives, where no Shepherd haunts, no Beast feeds, nor any Satire dare profane. Within this dark grove there is a little Grot, which making his passage through the hollowness of the earth, is all overgrown with bryre, with thorn, with twitch, & with many entangling bushes. It is a place unsearched, unknown, and undesired, as being rough, thick, and like hell, dark and void of all comfort. Within this place there lives a holy Hermitte, who being precious and dear unto our great God Pan, having sundry ways to issue from this his desolate Mansion, sometimes to drink the comfortable air: sometimes to give relief to distressed Shepherds, and sometimes for other more holy recreations, I have oft observed his hours: wherefore to morrow about the evening, at what time it shall be my hap to meet with him, I will with such sweet persuasion entice his old years, that he shall not deny me to stay, & for some little space to confer with thee, touching the doubtfulness of thine affection, the gift of prophecy, the knowledge of things past, and to come: and what else unrevealed art hath been to mankind hid, and obscured, the bountiful heavens to him only have disclosed; therefore look thou discharge thy counsels into his ears, & with care perform all his instructions, to shalt thou raise honour unto him, ease unto thyself, and to me thy well wisher a just satisfaction.  
Diatassan after a little amazement at her discourse, calling up his better wits, and finding a strong hope in this secret knowledge (being as it were tickled with a desire to behold the issue, for love hath no mean or patience in his desires) demanded if he should not presently go with her? But she answered No, for first she would confer with the Hermit herself, and then she advised him at the clossing of the evening, to come unto the foot of the mountain Ossa, and if there he found an Hermit, according to such description as she gave him, then to proceed and try the event of his understanding: Diatassan as much satisfied in himself, by this hope, as Ethera was hopeful to satisfy others by this stratagem, after many observant kisses offered upon the fair Altar of her hand, and double so many religious vows, and protestations of several services, for this her no less kind than honourable friendship, taking his leave of the polilicke Nymph, did together with the honest Shepherd Cosino, for that time depart home towards their own Cabinets.  
But Ethera not having as yet brought forth that prodigy which she intended should amaze all the world, and Tempe: but being as it were in a painful labour of much greater subtleties; as soon as the Shepherd was gone from her presence, she went and collected together sundry simples or strange workings, as Mandragge, Rue, Poppy, womansmilke, rose-leaves, powder of Nutmegs, and such like; Of these she composed a strong liquid potion, which being infused into a Crystal. Vyoll, and so carried it about with her in her bosom. This done, she presently went to the lodge, where the Princess Melidora lay, but missing her there, and being so emboldened with rage of her own desires, that she feared not to be accounted barbarous, she went strait unto that private Arbour, to which none might have access save only the princess; and as Boldness was ready to make her set her foot within the same, Wonder held her back, for she might hear a more than angels voice, which consorting the sound of a most delicate touched Lute, delivered unto her ears this Sonnet.  

Care keep that absent presence in my breast,  
Whose present absence doth torment my heart,  
And I will make thee Mistress of my rest.  
Not my souls good, but my souls better part.   

That absent image holds my present life,  
My life in it; it in my life doth live,  
Part them, and all my senses are at strife,  
They do my pleasures make, and comforts give.   

Then gentle Care let no Character grave,  
Other than his remembrance in my mind:  
And eyes if you send to my hearts close cane,  
Other then him, be you for ever blind.  
He hath my heart within his Image wrought,  
I have his Image graven in my thought.   
The very rareness of the sound delivered with such incomparable sweetness, easily assured her whom the singer was, and that it could not be any other than the Princess Melidora, wherefore retiring herself from her first intended entrance, and being of a pregnant wit, apt to compass choice Numbers without meditation, leaning herself against the backside of the Arbour, so that the Princess might not lose one syllable of her utterance, she sung this song Extempore, as it had been in the person of Diatasson.  

Alas why should I hope for ease,  
Of this my souls immortal strife,  
'tTwere better to abridge my days,  
Then urge her more to save my life.  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is my lives date, and my death's hour.   

How cross hath heaven been to my fate,  
Since first I got the use of breath?  
She that me loves, alas I hate,  
She that I love desires my death,  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is my lives date, and my death's hour.   

Cruel Love why didst thou strike me,  
With a Dart so full of woe?  
If both my ever do dislike thee,  
Nor my life thou wilt let go,  
O Apheleia thy loves power  
Is my lives date, and my death's hour.   

What boots it thee to see me bear  
This raging fire in which I burn,  
But that to men it may appear,  
What fortunes thou canst overturn.  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is my lives date and my death's hour.   

Yet if thou rue'st on any smart,  
Rue on my woe that woeful is,  
But thou hast an obdurate heart,  
And stony minds wants Pities bliss.  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is my lives date, and my death's hour.   

Alas why shouldst thy chaste fair sight,  
His glory gain by killing me,  
And so against all law and right,  
Win an abusive victory?  
O Apheliea thy loves power,  
Is my lives date, and my death's hour.   

Why didst thou give life to my flame,  
If hope to kill were thy regard,  
What worse chance can crown thy name,  
Then still to love and lack reward?  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is my lives date, and my deaths hour.   

And shall the showers of tears I show,  
Gain no remorse for all my smart?  
Alas stern Love doth answer No:  
For why? he dare not touch her heart.  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is my lives date, and my death's hour.   

It is in vain, I am ashamed  
That thus I seek cure for my grief,  
For hearts that are inhuman framed,  
Love woe so well they hate relief.  
O Apheleia thy loves power,  
Is Diatassans dying hours.   
The Princess attentively hearing this song, but not seeing the singer, after her ears had drunk the sound of her shepherds name, coupled with another (as she thought) much unworthy of so high pre-eminence, as if all such adoration, had been most damnable blasphemies, all-bee the sound did not challenge any thing from his voice; yet restless jealousy struck such strange fire into her bosom, that not able to contain herself, she came forth of the Arbour with a more than usual haste, Anger making the Lilies of her face cover all the Roses, But when she saw the deceit, and that it was but only the Nymph Ethera; new gilly-flowers springing about the Throne of Roses, smiling upon the Nymph, she said:  
I am glad (my Ethera) that thy pleasant free thoughts, stirring up thy silver voice, will give us the comfort of thy song: believe me, I feared, thy last affright would have rob both from thee and me, all taste of solitary pleasure; But I pray thee fair Nymph, tell me what song was this, which thou didst even now so passionately utter, was it of thine own, or of others composing? The Nymph Ethera with a downcast look, and an humble reverence, teaching her cheeks so artificial a blush, as might very well deceive Nature, bowing herself before the Princess, and first craving pardon for her bold presumption, in that she had come so near the place of her private retiring; assuring her with many pretty protestations, that she was utterly ignorant of her there abode: in the end she told the Princess that for the song which she had sung, it was none of her own invention, but made by the famous Shepherd Diatassan, in honour of the love he bore to the fair Nymph Apheleia, which she of late hearing, had now newly bequeathed to memory.  
O God had the Nymph Ethera out of an implacable anger taken a vow utterly to have confounded the Princess, or had the Princess been the utter confusion of all the generation from whence the Nymph was descended: had the Princess been her rival in affection; the bar to her desires; or had the Princess said, (what no woman can endure to have said) that she had not been fair, she could neither have found a more ready poison, nor a more sharp revenge, than the utterance of these words, which she delivered: they were Daggers in the Princess heart, they were wounds in her soul, and living deaths of dying lives anguish: what passion was there, with which she did not communicate? what fear, what distrust, what jealousy, what madness, what amazement, and what else that may take upon it the name of absolute evil, But in the end Reason that could never endure that such evils as these should become masters of his fairest habitation, but like Carnival maskers to have only a moment's entertainment, and no further, summoning his best accomplices as Virtue, Constancy, Consideration, and such like, began to war against the former, with these arguments.  
First she called to mind the virtue of his former life, his innocent thoughts, his plain dealing tongue, and his undisembling actions; the severity of his government, giving no liberty to inconstancy, and his honourable imitations, being even assurances of the best goodness, insomuch that Passion being accompanied with his only companion easy belief, and both they attended on by Anger their servant, casting a threatening cloud over the cheerful Firmament of her divine looks, she thus spoke to the Nymph Ethera.  
Well I perceive than the use of sin brings the Evil both to a delight and easiness in sin, nothing in them augmenting their ripeness more, than the warmth of their own wickedness: of this hath thine immodesty given me a double experience: thy first unchaste persuasions, being now seconded with a most shameful slander, lightness and impudency, striving how to create murder. O Ethera thou art doublie unkind, unkind to virtue, the shadow of whose countenance hath brought thee to much honour: but most unkind to truth whom thou seekest to kill with a false witness; be thy folly therefore thy scourge, and both my hate and refusals of thy counsels, profess of that detestation wherein I hold thee: henceforth I charge thee neither to frequent these walks, nor acknowledge my memory, but living an eternal exile, complain to the world what woes falsehood and shame have brought upon thee. Alas poor Diatassan, the virtue hath begot thee infinite envy, and thine imaginary happiness seeks to enrich thee with most cottaine mischief, but thy goodness hath taken such well grounded root in mine understanding, that nothing shall draw from thee the bliss of my good opinion: live but as happy as thou art constant, and even Angels shall find want in thine unbounded prospetive. And as she spoke these words, tears rising in her eyes, as it were to make a question in the world which were the more purer Diamonds, she offered to departed. But the Nymph after the custom of disgraced Tragedians, whose first act is entertained with a snaky salutation, falling upon her knees and staying her by her garments, with all the humility that either Art, of Nature could exercise, humbly besought her to stay, and hear what she had to say for her justification, assuring her by protestations of unspeakable earnestness, that when she had drawn her words before the throne of her own consideration, she should find them so full of substantial credulity, that no maxim whatsoever, should either be more true, or more certain. At this the Princess with a little amazement began to stay, whilst the Nymph Ethera thus spoke.  
How hard and impossible it is (Madam) for any persuasion to alter or unground that settled belief which in our souls we have planted as a matter immovable, the infinite errors which at this day reign in the world are living precedents: the mind creating reasons to defend her opinion; and the conscience being so free a spirit, as will neither endure bondage nor controlment: as of this (Madam) so we may speak of Love, whose supremest power having dominion over our belief, makes all things impossible which is not within the compass of our affection; from whence hath sprung those prodigies of Nature, of which even the world at this hour swells big withal; men madder than Pygmalion, not affecting well carved Images, but doting upon most deformed, loathsome, and infecting Sepulchres; women worse than Pasiphae, not lusting after beasts, but monsters; Mizentius cruelty being exercised in every Cathedral: so infinite is loves belief, and so impossible to be controlled: which belief sith in your most excellent self it hath found a well furnished habitation, my reasons unable to contend with your wisdom. and the credit of my words being disgraced in your opinion, it shallbe sand sprinkled in the wind for me to go about to exchange your conceit by any persuasion, yet inasmuch as my clear soul loatheth a spotted garment, let me even by your virtues sake, and your beauty's sake, conjure you to give my report this approbation: your Majesty knows Eugenio, the holy Prophet to our great God Pan, he that knows what was, what is, and what shall be; he that can bind charms, unloose doubts, and even almost alter destiny, to him (dear Madam) let us privately repair, and if what I have reported, he do not second with mo●● substantial proofs, let his truth be my conviction, and your hate my punishment. At these words, if not jealousy, yet a fancy in all proportion so like jealousy, that it could be taken for no wrong to give him his title, began to arise in the Princess thoughts stirring such a civil commotion betwixt Fear and her belief, that even with the amazement of their distracted persuasions, she grew both astonished and confounded, till desirous to know what she most desired not to know, after many arguments to approve his virtue, and double so many reasons to confirm her opinion, in the end she agreed to come with the Nymph Ethera to this place, where by my judgement and foreknowing science, the one might have her doubts resolved, the other her truth confirmed: Time in this business was held so precious, that neither of them would agree to the loss of one moment; but as it were forgetting all business, which to this business was not appertaining, without either greater guard, or better preparation, they forthwith, hither directed their journey, where both the princess, and the Nymph arrived at such time as the Sun declining down from the top of the heavenly Mountains, making his cooler beams shine upon these walks with a more sufferable warmness, had invited me forth to entertain the sweetness of his Evening progress, and being set upon this bank of flowers, with a modest gracefulness, such as Majesty only hath power to make admirable, the Princess gave me a divine salutation, wishing me increase of hours, peace of thought, and the bliss of mine own wishes, to which when I had returned the best and heartiest of my prayers, the Princess told me she had an earnest suit unto me, which would I vouchsafe to grant, I should not only tie her in the best bond of friendship, but make her acknowledge to posterity how much she was a handmaid to my wisdom, I that ever have been a servant to the servants of my God, besought her to proceed, assuring her that whatsoever was either within the compass of my prayers, counsels or knowledge, should with my best endeavours labour her satisfaction: and with that, even as she was opening her lips to deliver her questions, the Nymph Ethera interrupted her by delivering to me these speeches. Father (said she) as our desires are earnest, so are our questions tedious, and both will extort from thy gravity, either a long discourse or an imperfect satisfaction; which to make perfit, that neither thine age may be grieved with our conference, nor we return with a half parted solution, so please thee take this Vial filled with a strong and well composed liquor, whose warm moisture I know will quicken the frost of old age, & make the spirit of youth revive in thy bosom, and drink of it an hearty draft, I know it will comfort your veins, and make the pain of speech less irksome to your weakness, and therewithal she drew forth the vial of liquor she had formerly mixed, and gave it me to drink, of which I took a full draft: the Nymph ever urging me to drink again, till I made her this answer, that it did not befit the life I had undertaken, either to make proud the flesh, or fill my empty veins with new heat of glowing youthfulness, whose rebellious spirit holds an eternal mutiny with the divine soul, but rather by the use of thin diet, much watching, and many cares to humble that Typhon, my body, and make it serviceable to great Pan my sovereign, and at these words, delivering her vial into her hand, I humbly desired the Princess to proceed to her question, who immediately thus spoke.  
I have heard (said she grave father) that the Siren doth not enchant, but instruct, not bewitch but enrich with wonder the attentive ear of the Seafaring or weatherbeaten travailer, who delighted with the honey oratory of their Prophetic and divine language, stays his busy course, and with amazed admiration, drinks the celestial wisdom of their incomparable knowledge, no less than theirs; nay much more abundant is the report of thy wit, reading, and excellent, experience, for whom our fields and we are blest, and in whom lives the hope and felicity of our lives comfort: O let us then (I beseech thee) receive from thy learned and unspeakable wisdom, some serious discourse of such things, as either to our memories are unknown, or in the date of our after time, by the hand of Destiny, shall be fulfilled▪ and believe it we will bind our ears as firmly to thy wisdom, as the rocke-bound Mariner to the Music of the Mermaid.  
I hearing this pretty suit made from so excellent a mouth: told her, that allbe the liberal heavens had for their own glories, and man's satisfaction created me a vessel for their use, enclosing in me some knowledge of their more secret wisdom, yet that either my tongue should rashly break up the seals of the eternal register of the uncontrolled Fates, or that my easy charity should for mortal satisfaction disclose the counsels of the starry Parliament, were both an odious blemish to mine old age, and an utter banishment of those graces, which by the grace of heaven had hitherto in me abounded; neither are (quoth I) the high contemplations of the divine powers within then reach of man's knowledge, being a creature rather created to look into the wretched estate of his own sinfulness, the remembrance whereof should even bow our heads to our feet, and make us with trembling admiration look upon those dangers which hourly lie before us, wherein we may behold in daily models, how even the wisest do fetter and entangle themselves; yet fair Princess, inasmuch as I know your wisdom is never unaccompanied with Virtue, and that Virtue now inflamed with a desire of unrevealed knowledges; to give some satisfaction both to your wisdom, virtue, and desire, constantly behold this mirror or glass of divine providence. And with that I drew forth this glass, which ever I bear in my bosom, in which as the Princess gazed with a thirsty eye, and an inflamed remembrance, she might behold the whole compass of the round world, both heaven, earth, sea, and hell; and above all as in a Sphere of the most speedy motion, whose whirling swiftness took from the eye the distinguishment of the matter, whereof it was composed, she might behold set in her triumphant Throne, the great and dreadful Goddess of Fortune incertain Ramnusia, who being set upon three round Munddes, whose motions were three times swifter than the suns Chariot, was at that time shaping all worldly premotion into the fashion of an almighty Wheel, running continually about an axle-tree wrought out of a rock of impenetrable Diamond about this Wheel she saw swarming all sorts of people, even from the Throne of Majesty, to the stool of earth, which is much lower than the Cottage, some hanging by the heads, some by the hands, and some by the feet, some by the eyes, some by the ears, and some by imagination: none having so certain hold as could give assurance to their abiding, nor any one so incertainlye placed, as seemed to apprehend any fear of sudden falling; yet never did leaves in Autumn fall thicker from the parched trees, than these vassals unto Fortune, dropped and shewred down from this infinite engine, only one above all the rest that sat upon the top of the Wheel in a Chair of glass, stayed and supported by many columbs and pillars of Crystal, jest, and porphery, showed that in the greatest inconstancy and exchange of alteration, there is ever some one figure of constant eternity; this glorious person seemed to be the only delight of Fortune, as in whom she had planted her choicest affections, given her the control of her Godhead, and even the alteration downfall, and uprising of her frowns, favours and advancements, this worthy creature the Princess might see, with her hand lift up, Millions to the top of Fortune's Wheel, and seat them with assurance round about her, she might see her raise Ganymede to heaven, and make him Ioues taster, for whose take even the whole generation of Troy received an eternal blessing, she might see her take Apollo from Admetus' flocks, to make him Lord of the world's beauty, and the Roman Maro from rubbing Augustus' horse, to sing the honours, virtues and conquests, of the most celestial generations; what might she not see he do that was impossible to be done by any other creature; she might see her favour work all things, making vanity the school of wisdom, if she gave toleration to one vain opinion, and piety itself, more esteemed for her imitations, then for its own goodness; but in the end, what with the multitudes of her own advancing, and the slippetinesse of the throne wherein Incertainty had placed her, the Princess might behold that great minion unto Fat, and Favour fall like a star from the heavens, unto the foot of the lowest destiny, the whilst her own creatures, like ayme-crier; beheld her mischance with nothing but lippe-pitie.  
These and many such like visions the Princess beheld in my prospective, which drawing her mind to reckon with many wonders, and entangling it in a many-wayed Labyrinth, she in the end besought me to explain the meaning of these doubtful and obscure inigmas: But scarce were her entreaties passed from her lips, when a heavy and dead slumber seizing upon all my senses, locked up both my utterance & knowledges, so that falling into a most sound sleep, I gave her assurance, that her doubts at that time were to remain unsatisfied; but the Princess as greedy of understanding as my body was of rest, with pretty motions, and the raising up of her well tuned voice, into a higher Key, sought to awake and break off my sleeping, till the Nymph Ethera besought her to remain satisfied, in as much as no sound had power to uncharm those slumbers, declaring therewithal how she had to this end mixed that potion of which the old man had drunk, against whose operation there was neither noise, nor violence could prevail: which assoon as the Princess understood, fearing that her fears would be too long lived, and doubting this stratagem, was devised only to lend eternity to her doubts full of divine impatience, clothed in the robes of the most lonelyest anger, she began bitterly to inveigh against the Nymph, renewing all her former opinions touching her falsehood, and fortifying them with this witness, that gave assured testimony, she durst not abide the trial of any innocent or upright justice: after the Nymph had given the Princes leave even to tyre her anger with her own passion, she in the end interrupted her with these words.  
See, see, madam (said she) how in the most excellent things, this fury which we call conceit, doth tyrannize and confound all those celestial ornaments which should make them most admired: thinks your Majesty I invented this to keep mine own sin hidden? no, it is to make my glory like the Sun, much brighter; I know (Madam) the effects of our Feminine belief, and the sovereignty of Love, both which admit no credit, no not to Angels, if their Ambassages run in oppositions with our fancies, wherefore (Madam) that this virtuous old man, shall not like the Trojan Prophetess, tell truth without credit, nor I without cause bear the burden of calumniation; thus if it please you I have devised: the grown and hood which this reverent Priest to our great God weareth, you shall put on: his Book, his beads, his Glass, and his Staff, you shall also exercise, and in all aprearance to the eye, bearing the whole image of his gravity, you shall seat yourself in this place, and as not being what you are, but what you seem to be, I mean the aged Eugenio, you shall this day to all such as shall make hither their repair for counsel, unfold the hidden mysteries of their fortunes: amongst whom, if the noble Shepherd Diatassan shall appear, and unto your own ears discharge all and more than that little, all which I have delivered; be then yourself the indifferent judge betwixt your belief, my wrong, and his inconstancy. The Princess apprehending her devise, gave easy consent to the accomplishment, and therewithal leading me into a private Arbour, where they might more conveniently disrobe me, they began that intricate work, which how it was effected, seconded, and controlled, who are desirous to understand, must expect in the next volume.  
FINIS.