ALhaile ye Lidian streames: what meane these dolefull dumpes? hath Io caste hyr hornes? what if shee ha [...]e, yet doe the buddes remayne? what, are ye tas­ked to the prayers of Acharon, that ye f [...]are the passage to his temple? or haue ye to de [...]le with the me [...]orable iudges [...] and Rhad [...]manthus▪ feare ye the [...]orm [...]ntes of Hercules? the plagues of [...] or the bar [...]yng of [...] if aught of the [...]e be the cause feare you not, but draw neare to [...]ethe lake, s [...]one after the tas [...]ing whereof ye s [...]all forget this clodde of car [...]yng [...]are, though in deede ye haue tasted before of the very Well of [...]ensi [...]enesse, videlicet, the S [...]g [...]a lake. But being thus wrapped in y ^• v [...]e of misery, I trust a caul [...] sweete western winde after this your sharp & stormy winter can no sooner come in place, than he shalbe welcomen▪ neither in the Primetyde of the yeere ( v [...]del [...]cet) in Aprill and in May. can Phoe­b [...] so soone display his goldē bright rayes or glistering beames vpō the earth▪ than will eche harte reioyce, & ech hea [...]e which before hath bene penned vp or kept as it were in the pryson of [...]arte froste, now laugh his Iaylour the froste to scorne: so I thinke, be it mornyng or euening▪ come I early or late. I come not to soone to dry vp those surging seas or boystrous streames of carping care, which with p [...] ̄ ­s [...]uenesse oue [...]flow your heauy hartes▪ nor to expell those dolefull dumpes whiche sore oppresse your pestred wittes. For as I take no small d [...]l [...]ght thorowly to bas [...]e my corps with the Nectar wine of the Hom [...]icall Goddes, to reune my dolefull sprytes when I set occasion: so take I a great delight to haue a portion of that mar­uelous hea [...]te [...]epenthes (whiche hath force to driue sadnesse and melancholy f [...]ō each mans hart) about me▪ to imparte to my friends cōmyng in [...]lace where such pensiuenesse doth raigne. Now sir, I commyng from my wonted custome, and associ [...]d with Nepenthes iuyce, chauncing (as fortune would) into this fayre flocke of my faithfull friendes, whome I playnely see as it were in glasse before [Page] mine eyes set altogither lumping and lowring as if ye had lately co­men from Troph [...]nius caue, or rather escaped S. Patrickes Purgato­rie, fully perswade my selfe I can not better bestowe it, than vpon your crased corpses: wherefore (my diligence imployed ye shall see how neate I wil be, not onely in anoynting eche parte of your s [...]o­mak [...], wherby you might the eas [...]er auoyde all Melancholy, but also in curiously wasshing your sweltring hartes, whereby all sadnesse may straight auoyde and giue place to Dame pleasure and all hyr troupe, for so Nepenthes biddes. Yet du [...]be not me for a mery knaue, but Nepenthes iuyce for a pleasant Knight, to whome I am but a seruaunt or rather an instrument to bryng his feates aboute, as now plainly and manifestly appeareth in this amorous discourse of Sir N. O. and the worthy Nymphe A. O. whom the Goddes as­signed at length to be his wyfe. And now (deare Dames) bycause I would not h [...] you (my rare beyng runne) to stande in as foo­lishe or rather in a foolisher doubte than Plato whylome did, who doubted in deede whether he shoulde put your se [...] among reasona­ble or v [...]reasonable creatures: I will make euery thyng so playne vnto you, as [...] coulde not be, though in de [...]de you shoulde be ledde by a lyne or poynted vnto it with Democri [...] Anger. And for your better instruction, seyng menne in these dayes thi [...]ke that the clymate or the countrie w [...]erein a man is borne, importeth not a little towarde his nobility, ye shall vnderstand, I will not faynt (as the Poetes did,) and say, Sir N. O. was brought foorth in flo­ [...]yng [...]elos as Apollo was, nor yet in hollow rockes as was Iupi­ter, neyther that this Nymphe A. O. tooke hyr beginnyng in wa­ [...]yng Seas as Venus did, or was begotten of the [...]rayne of any as was Pallas b [...] Iupiter: but Sir N.O. descended of the auncient house and noble parentage of Hippomenes, as this treatise maketh playne, and the worthie Nymph [...] A.O. [...] the other side (as Apollo sayd) was borne and educated in Pasquilles Heauen, daughter vnto Dame Diana (though the Poetes sayne the contrary) begotten of hy [...] sweete harte Endymyon, whome in hyr huntyng not seldome shee visited by startes (if the Poetes, are to be credited) whiche startes you knowe full oft requireth startyng corners, and if you knowe [Page] not, these hyr startes may gyue you to vnderstande: for why shoulde shee couette to haue hyr Altare besprincled with mans bloude, if shee tooke no delight in man? or why shoulde shee (v­sing huntyng as a copie of hyr countenaunce) visit so ofte by stealth, hyr sweete harte End [...]m [...]on, if not for some suche intent? for this we knowe, that womanhoode and chastitie forbiddeth plea­sure. If then the lyke chastnes [...]e were grafted in hyr▪ as is reported to be, she would not haue vsed in that order his companie, nor yet haue spent hyr dayes cōtinually in hunting, as we see she doth. Yet maruell not (poeticall Nymphes) that thus much hath not bene reuealed vnto you before this tyme of our auncient Poetes: for no maruell it is if the Poetes hereof were ignorant, when none of the Goddes knewe it, exceptyng Apollo, neyther had he knowen it, but thorow hyr commyng to haue the aduice of his Oracle at Delphos (that is) to know whether it were a male or female that she went withall, who courteously answeryng▪ sayde, it was a female whiche with hyr shoulde be Alpha and Omega (that is to say) the firste and the laste that euer she shoulde beare: who was not before so muche dismayed, discomforted, and grieued with hyr conception, least (commyng to lighte) the bandes of chastitie wherewith shee was thought to be [...]ound, should be counted broken, but [...]entymes more now reioyced at this Alpha and Omega, persuadyng hir selfe, that how lendely soeuer she behaued hyr selfe, wantonnesse of pleasure would not be seene. But yet take heede Diana least thorow thy to muche credulitie and light beliefe (as the Prouerbe goeth) Miner­tiam exercit [...]res: For not seldome the Oracle of Apollo beareth a double meanyng (moste lyke to the Images of Alcibi [...]des) who what imported life without, the same inclosed death with­in. Nowe Dame Diana keepyng thys scape very secretely (as wisdome warned hir) and knowing hir time of deliuery to be neare at hande, takyng hir bowe and shaftes as though she woulde haue gone to hir woonted game, conueyed hir selfe primly vnder a clowde into Pasqu [...]lles heauen: where remaynyng vntill the tyme of hyr deliuery was past, the Goddes (not knowing where shee had bene) meruayled much at this hir long absence, and at hir returne, meri­ly [Page] gyving with hir, as they satte at dinner. Iupiter demaunded of hyr where she had bene, and what sporte shee had had all this time. Who first fixed hir eyes vpon hyr [...] strings, secondly lookyng stedfastly in the middest thereof, straight [...]oorth had a ready answere by the ende: which proueth not a little the readinesse, ripenesse, sharp­nesse and suttlety of a womans witte: for she meanyng in deede to disclose the whole matter (least some euesdropper or picketbanke shoulde bewray hyr vnto Venus, who alwayes was and wil be hyr mortall enimie) yet in such secrete manner and after suche a lofty style as the Goddes themselues should hardly vnderst [...]nde hyr, an­swered him in this sorte: Sir (quoth she) in sporte I past the bandes of pleasure, and came to the Court of felicitie, for I had no soo [...]e entered the wilde and fennie forest of my wonted game, but a good­ly Bucke foorth of the thicke and flaking serue began to rouse him­selfe, who contrary to the nature of his sexe, leauyng bothe fierce­nesse and wildenesse (as though he had knowen me) ganne louingly to fawne vpon me, des [...]ryng me with his lippes, and tickyng my garments with his [...]ong. Whereat I beyng amazed, and ta­king it to be some of Circes inchauntments, who had taken vpon him the Crocodiles nature, I sent a percyng shaft to sticke amiddest his ribbes, whiche contrary to his former force rebounded backe a­gayne: the Bucke likewise not f [...]aryng aught, began to licke afresh. Whereat I maruellyng not a little, seyng this change of nature, persuaded my selfe it was some wayned Bucke, whiche of late had strayed from the lodge of my forest (and now forgotten tho­row my tasting of Lethe lake at my firste entring into the same,) wherefore I beganne to play with him, calling him by this name, VVill, VVill: who no otherwise as it were fle [...]ted vpon me, than doth the childe or little infant, who smyl [...]s vpō his mother or nurse callyng him by some childishe name. And perceyuing I had yeel­ded vnto his lore (as in deede I had) thinking I [...]ould folow him, began lightly to trippe before me, vntill such time as he came to a broade gate of a fayre lawne fielde. I like a good bloudhound pur­suyng my chace leasurely, kepte true footing, and drewe neare vnto him, whom when he spied (more like a mā than a beast) he opened [Page] the hatch with his croked horne, and with the same h [...]lde it opē vn­till such tyme as I had entred. Then did I see him make towarde the middle of the lawne, wherein was a slippe hedged aboute with blacke & white thorne, but rather made in the order of a liste where­in a combat had or should be foughten: whom incontinently I fol­lowed: he entred, I entred also: thus beyng entred, he layed him downe to breathe. I fate me downe likewise to reste my wraried limmes, and played with his hornes in my lappe. But (to be short) he suddenly rising, gan fiercely to pushe at me with his prickyng hornes, and so fi [...]rcely pursued his fe [...]nishe thrustes, that before I could recouer my feete agayne▪ he gaue me a go [...]ng woūd. Wher­at I beyng amazed▪ and yet des [...]rous to see farther before I en [...]oyed his death, withstoode him stoutly, nothyng regardyng his force. Wherein I founde that a valiaunt Knight may soone be ouer­comen, but a fierce Souldier sooner tyred, for so was her: yet be­ing vanquished, he yeelded himselfe, fawning vpon me as he did be­fore, to whome (beyng moued with pittie,) and hoping in short time to recouer my hurte, I graunted lyfe, yet brake his [...]o [...]nes and let him goe. Who was no sooner gone, but the sore incontinently be­gan to swell: I (fearing the worste) sought straightfoorth for Elle­borus to purge me thereof, whiche founde, I stamped it and dranke the iuyce thereof at my discretion: soone after the drinking whereof. all the corruption and matter which before was congeled in my go­red wounde, gushed foorth, but to my deadly paynt. Thus in a fair [...] large fielde betweene the listes I incountered with my mortall fo [...]: who receyuing the foyle but not the repulse, I brake his horne, and for the testimoniall thereof beholde the same (shewyng the Goddes in deede the little [...]ngar of a borne gantlet whiche was hyr sweete hartes Endymyon, whiche wee call the louers fingar, but what shee meante thereby I referre to you Madames, whose wittes herein do passe my foolishe skill:) The Goddes hearyng this tale (not per­ceauyng hyr sutteltie) laughyng sore, commended hyr sporte, and beganne (as Terence sayeth) Omnia bona dicere & Laudare fortu­nam eius, saying moreouer, shee had done valiantly, and in gy­ [...]yng order wished themselues there (beyng merily disposed) some [Page] wish cap [...]ace and bodkyn, some with quisshyn and belhedded pin, other some with beere bung and fauset, an other with potlyd and la­del, and some agayne with chāberpot and bedstaf. Thus euery God had his sundry wishe, and euery one his wishe alike. But in the meane tyme Diana hyr scape was kepte vnknowne, the know­ing whereof shee feared the lesse, seyng At [...] and Momus, the Gods of reprehension, long tyme agone were caste downe from heauen thorow the whole consent of the Poeticall Goddes, whiche maketh them now (as Homer sayeth) leade foorth an caste lyfe.

Thus I trust (my glittryng starres) ye are fully resolued of the byrth and natiuity of the Lady A. O. ye neede not farther to doubt hereof, for though my rude stile be not penned with the goldē Liduos streames, neyther curiously polisshed with Hermus glitteryng sandes, yet (my louyng troupe) if yee diligently marke the glose thereof, you shall finde it penned with Ganges siluery streames, the force whereof will drawe Golden sandes vnto it to shade the same. Here resteth nowe (to goe consequently) the cause why Dame Diana named this Nymphe A. O. whiche is, bycause the Oracle of Apollo, ( Alpha Omega) signified vnto hyr mother firste and laste, therefore did she call hyr by the firste letters of the same ( vi­delicet) A. O. But nowe I knowe yee looke I shoulde returne to my matter (that is) to shewe in deede the firste originall acquayn­taunce of Sir V. O. and the worthie Nymphe Alpha Omega, which as briefly as I can, I will declare. N. O. beyng a man of great possessions, detestyng alwayes the frothe of Venus, before such time as the wonderfull beautie of this Nymphe had not onely dasled his eyes, but also bestraught hym of hys former senses, hauing neither male nor female to inioy his goodes and landes, what tyme the fatall threede of this his terestriall lyfe was thorowly expired and ended, lamented sore the Metamorphosis of his cousin Hippomenes, and dayly repayred before the presence of all the homericall Gods, crāuyng moste earnestly vpon his knees his cousins shape to bee restored agayne, (whome Cibele the mother of the Goddes had tur­ned into a whyte Lyons shape with the beautifull Atlanta his wyfe, for seekyng the fraytes of Venus in the woodde where hyr [Page] dayly habitation was, without any reuerence of the place) whiche by no meanes hee coulde obtayne. Alpha Omega likewyse re­maynyng in the Ilande Seiros, bryng praysed of all others for hyr wonderfull beautie (settyng no lesse thereby than in deede o­thers did) hearyng of the fayre mayden Atlanta who lately li­ued in the sayde Ilande, whome Hippomenes thorowe the coun­sel of Venus wonne to be his wedded wife, desired vpō a time of the Goddes that hyr righte shape might bee restored agayne, meanyng thereby (as I suppose) to see which of their beauties were most to be esteemed, seyng they were bothe of all menne so highly allowed, and so greatly proued (for sure it is, one woman enuieth the beautie of an other) and thinketh hyr self fayrest of all. So frownyng for­tune and cruell destinie yet withstoode hyr enterpryse, that naught hyr suyte before the Goddes coulde preuayle ( Venus especially being hyr heauy friend (onely for hyr beauties sake.) It happened so, these two hauing bothe a like suyte vnto the Goddes, met [...]e (by chaunce) in the heauenly throne of the mighty and thundryng Iupiter, at suche tyme as the Goddes were disposed to heare mortall mennes vowes and supplications (whiche I iudge to bee in the forenoone and sober houres of the day) for in the after noone, when th [...]y are well and thorowly whirled with the Nectar wine, then lis [...]e they not to treate on earnest affayres, but looke on whiche side the heauens bendeth lowest towardes the earth, there sitte they intentiue­ly beholding mortall mens doings, whiche vnto them are as it were a Theatre of tragical discourses to moue them to laughter: But be­holde (fayre Dames) Venus bearyng their supplications▪ grudgyng at N. O. for detesting hir froth and hating A. O. for hyr beautie (not contented to denie their petitions) called Cupide that blinde and conkered boy vnto hyr, commaunding him vnder affection to strike this N. O. in moste ardent loue with A. O. who (obeying hir beste,) straightfoorth ascended to the Mount Pernossus, where his guyuer of arrowes lay, who (chusing among the reste what beste mighte worke this feate) suddenly stroke his silly harte, who felte no sooner the arrow pricke, but straightfoorth came bo [...]nde to Louers lore, yea, in such sorte, that he sat all on thorne till shee was g [...]ne; [Page] whereby he might finde time and place to vtter his moning minde vnto hir, and also to bewray his sweltring harte. Loue made hym volde, he feared nought but least the Goddes shoulde bee inflamed with hyr, who (rauisht with hyr sight) might barre him of his will. Such was hyr beautie, (sayd Apollo) as all y ^e heauēs gan clearly to shine (not Phoebus yet in place.) But to be short (hir suyte not auay­lyng she departed from thence to hyr wonted Ile of Scyros, whome N.O. incontinently followed: and (gardyng hyr to hyr lodge) in the way of familiaritie taking the gentle conge of hyr (as a [...] guer­don in lien of his paynes) vsed vnto hyr these wordes followyng: Oh Goddesse of worthie price (quoth he) if so I might thee call, re­buke me not for my boldnesse, for what my lippes haue done and now professe, my harte hath wished long before. I graunt (not vaū ­ting of my parētage) a grafte of wilding stocke (as I am) deserueth not to incoūter with the sugred lippes of so worthie a Goddesse (as by thine outward app [...]rāce) thou [...]eemest in my sight to be: say ther­fore (O well of life) if trespasse aught herein I haue cōmitted, then let my lyfe a guerdon be for these my euil desertes, but in y ^e me [...]ne time Ladie (as doubtful of my offēce,) I appeale to thy courtesie for grace. Who courteously answering, sayd: No Goddesse sir, yet oft we see blinde bayarde hitteth the nayle on the hedde, but tell me good sir I pray you what meaneth this kinde of salutation? I, lesse than sel­dome haue founde in my woonted friendes the like curtesie, much lesse in a straunger, wherefore your curteous demeanoure (whatso­euer it pleaseth you to say of your selfe) giueth me to thinke, your race to haue commen of some noble parentage, or rather of a wor­thie line. N.O. fearing the imbecillitie of his witte, and the foltering of his toung (though in deede he needed not) answered in this sorte: alasse (thou fountayne of my ioy) my foltring tong is bashefull to recite the lingring loue whiche this mine inwarde harte with dead­ly payne retayneth: wherefore by humble suyte I craue, that what my trembling tongue for feare is bashfull to recite, the same my painefull penne may put in writing. I graunt (quoth she) seyng no­thing but reason you do require▪ if so you had leue [...] your penne to paynte, than your tong to expresse the same. Yet as it hath pleased [Page] you of your courtesie, to accompany me in this so long a voyage (I vnworthie thereof) so I desire you to so [...]o [...]e with me this night, takyng a small repast in lieu of your good will, and a harde lodgyng to reste your weried limmes, in parte of satisfaction to recompence your profered payne. No doubte but N.O. willingly accepted hyr courteous profer: for at what time this proffer was made they were in the [...]ight of the house, which bring most gorgeously adorned with highe poyntes, curious turrets, and fewe glasse windowes rounde about▪ inflamed his hart with a great desire to viewe the situation, and not onely the rules and principles, but also the chiefest poyntes and moste centous workemanship thorow the deuice of Geometry whiche therein were vsed, whiche sure he had no sooner entered, but the [...]egall pompe and princely furniture, seemed in all poyntes cor­respondent to the braue paynting, and the curious workemanship of the ba [...]tle [...]s & turrets without. But I will omit this sumptuous bu [...]lding (least while I seeme to prayse it at the full) not giuing it his true title (I deminish the glory thereof) and speake of his friend­ly intertaynement, bycause it appertayneth partely to my charge, At si [...] N.O. his first entraunce into the house, Alpha Omega taking him by the hande and bidding him according to the rules of courte­sie moste hartely welcome, shewed him all the commodities of the house, and ledde him into a fayre large gallerie lying on the west side of the house, where first desirous to know his name, his natiue coū ­try and linage, and after great parlance more (which were to tedi­ou [...] here to recite:) the borde beyng couered after a stately manner, supper drewe neare, whereof beyng warned by the Steward of the house, she desired him to take a smal repast, who (thanking hir for hir curtesie) sat downe as he was placed of the Grome, whiche was at the vpper end of the borde nexte to his Ladie, on whome he many a sheepish eye did cast. What should I here bryng in the number and sortes of dayntie dishes, or the curious caruyng and seruice at the borde? y ^e shewyng whereof is as caste as the numbring of the s [...]arres in the skies, or the telling of the sandes in the seas. Yet thinke I it good and Opere precium, here to reduce their pretie Poems and Poë­ticall Pamphlets conueyed from the one to the other, for he that [Page] seeketh the grounde and pithe therof, shall fynd aliquid salis, in them (as the prouerbe goeth.) First N. O. marking greatly hir behauiour and gestures, oft tymes cast his glauncing eyes (as he thought) by stealth vpon hir, winking muche withall wherat A. O. maruelling, asked him if the light of the candle das [...]d his eyes. To whome he re­plyed thus: Not so (dere dame) I winke for feare, least my too much contemplation of thy wonderful beautie daze my greedy eyes, for by proofe I fynd it not ouer easy to clyme the Egles nest, and thy great curtesie is a ready repulse to my rudenesse, yet beare with my blyn­king folly: for it is great good will that grauelleth me, and the feare of repulse maketh my heart to freese. Wherfore I beseech thee, graūt fire in time to thaw. Good sir (quoth she) to find fire in frost, I count it [...]etter lost. I graunt (said N O.) who findeth fire in frost, he finds, but yet he liues by losse▪ but who findeth frost in fire, hee gapeth for good lucke. And yet although for feare my hart doth freese, and cra­ueth your liuely countenance to thawe the same, yet hath the trump of thy beautie kindled suche sparkes of hote burning coales, as not all the water in the sea is able, yet one drop of the deaw of thy liuely countenance may qu [...]nch the same. Wherefore as after a maner I craued fire to thawe my fearful freesing: so now (as inforced to the same) I craue the liuely draw of thy [...]ountenance, to quench or lay the heat of these my kindling coales. Wherat with simpering lyps she smyled▪ thinking he coulde not perceyue hir, but therof she was deceyued. Which cheared him on further to haue sayd, but that the boord being discouered, the sweete musicke and melodious harmo­nie called vppon them to daunce. His Ladie lykewise (maruelling at his Ephonicall toung,) tooke him by the hand, crauing him to lead hir a gallyarde: wherof I dare sweare not mis [...]yking) he granting hir request, fulfilled hir demaunde: they traced (as neare as I can remember Ap [...]llo his wordes) the gracious galliardes dedicated to the Goddes, and afterwards those measures, whose footing and ge­stures serued best his turne, and some of their harts likewise daunced priuily loth to departe. But (their legges fainting) he gaue his la­die the zucado d [...]z [...]labro [...], and led hir again to the place from whēce she yelded hir selfe. Soone after the companie leauing their past once [Page] (the Chamberlayn willing to shew him his chamber (he curteously bid his Ladie good night, saying what she had graunted, he meant to put in vre. Wherby (as I suppose) he meant the graunt of de­claring his mynd by writing. Who graciously wishing him good rest, sayde: What my lippes haue spoken, myne honour can not denye. Thus takyng his leaue, he marched towarde his chamber. whiche he l [...]unde all hanged with whyte and blacke. Who know­ing well the vertue of eche coloure, and the myrting of the same, thought veryly hee swymmed agaynst the streame. For (as I haue heard some say) these colours pretended virginitie vnto death. But yet N. O. knowyng that out of one mouthe, commeth bothe ho [...]te and colde, and knowyng his hearte wyth feare to s [...]cese more and more, thought long vntyll suche time as some t [...]tale paper had bla­zed his priuie scalding sighes and salte teares to whome her loued best Wherfore soone after his entring into the chamber, he dischar­ged the Chamberlayn of his duetie, and made this letter folowing in a redinesse, to giue to hir Ladie at hir firste flight.

This (being finished) he layed his drowsie head vpon his softe pillow to sleepe: but (God wote) it was so sore pestered with the te­dious thoughtes of his fayre Ladie, that whilest he thought to haue rested his weried limmes in a bedde of security, his senses were res­ted (as it were to the thirde heauen) with feare of digression. Thus (as one being placed where pleasure was, and could not participate the same) with many a sobbing sighe, and skalding teare he wrested foorth the tedious night, in hope, that if the Muses Thaleia and Pe­lymneia fauoured his tong, as well as Phoebus and Calliope the dire­ction of his penne, his rising shoulde be on the right side on that day: yet wresled he so his effeminate bande to the siege of backewarde affection, that both trumpe and drumme sounded nothing for their Larum, but Baccare, Baccare: yet as the sound of trumpe and stroke of drumme incourageth not a little the▪ henlyke man to martiall feates, blouddy actes, and warlike prowes, thinking thereby to rayse an euerlasting fame whiche neither the obliuion of memory should [...]oulde in earth, nor yet the antiquitie of tyme shall turne to duste: so the onely sounde of trumpe & drumme (though in deede the troupe of frowarde affection, stoode as it were a bande of mortall enimies before him, seekyng the spoyle of his innocent bloudde) inforced him to sette the best legge forewarde, knowing that Phoebus with his ra­l [...]ant rayes is able to put the cloudie roupes to flighte, and therefore [Page] with a good courage be gan to rouse himself. Who (after eche thing placed in order about him (thought to haue greeted his Ladie wyth the morning salutation, as other of his sect haue vsed to do, and cō ­ming through the galery which led him to his chamber, he met (as fortune would) with his ladie vpon the sodayne, who not grieued with his chaunce, wel liking the place, and not misliking the tyme, taking hir by the hand, & giuing hir the curtesie of Aurora, she con­maunded hir nimble feete to encounter a turne or twayne about the galerie, where leauing forain matters, they parled at the flest of do­mesticall and priuate affaires. But yet as one word driueth foorth an other, so this parlance being soone ended, N.O. issued forth in this sort: Lady (quoth he) I see dame Pa [...]las in thee hath played hir part, wherfore be not offended with my incroching vpon thee, being desi­rous to be absolued of this doubt, which is: A valiant captain tru­sting the craking wordes of his souldiers [...]not knowing their man­hood, & pressed in hast thervnto) bringeth thē to the field, whom sort assault (for the most part) proues rather cackling hennes, than skil­ful souldiors in martial exploits. For being inuironed, or rather (as it were, hedged in rounde about of their enimies (who in deed were too strong for them) hauing no way to flee but through the surging Sea, some like hennes hauing small lust to cackle, being expulsed off their nestes, aduenture to scape the seas, and are drowned. The second companie stand to the direfull dent of [...]attred shield, and are slaine. The third (seeing no resistance) yeld to their enimies, in hope to fynde lyfe, where not seldome we finde life to be none. The cap­taine seing his hand broken, and his armye scattered, standeth in a quandare, not knowing what to doe. Thus good Lady (my questi­on being moued) my demaund is in this case, if you were captayn, which of these three companies would you hold withall? The La­die marking well his proposition▪ made answere in thys sort: Syr knyght (quoth she) this case is playne, the valyaunt Souldioure hadde rather truste to the force of hys armes amiddest hys eni­mies, than in the fielde a fayre payre of heeles to shew. Therfore, who vsed that vayne of manhoode, I iudge were iustly serued: the [Page] toys [...] and skylfull Souldieors (s [...]ing Mars to withstande them, and Mercuries shiftings not to preuayle) will rather yeld, standing to the curtesie of their enimies, than more boldly than wisely runne headlong into their owne destruction: For nought but direful death by seekyng the extremitie at tyrennous handes doeth happen. Wherefore, who courteously yeeldeed (seing none other remedy, if I hadde bene theyr Captayne, with them I woulde haue holden. Then (quoth N O. marke well the consequent: the case being myne, and you the Castell whyche I seeke to wynne, ( Mars frow­nyng v [...]pon mee) I yeelde, what woulde you doe? Take all your goodes (quoth the Ladye) for inueying agaynste mee, then bynding you by solemne othe and protestation whyle l [...]fe do [...]th laste, neuer to bea [...]e speare and shielde agaynste mee in the fielde agayne, with lyfe and lymme you shoulde departe. Nowe as­suredly (sayth he) as a greater curtesie I woulde not wish, so thus muche (as inforced thereto) I craue. For why (fayre Ladye) in suche thunderyng sorte doth clipping Eccho sounde foorth the loftye Taratantara of thy amyable trumpe, that needes I muste preferre my rude wordes vnto thy learned eares. Thou art (ob amarous dame) that strong and stedfast Castell of amitie whych Cupide in­forceth my heart to inuey: Loue is my standerde whiche b [...]art [...]h vp the banner of affection, vnder whome Dame Venus, inf [...]rceth my wittes to fyghte: I am that capitayne, whose wa [...]le [...]ull eyes be­holdeth myne armye scattered. Feare of denyall is that platte soul­diour, who wyth open mouth and continuall crye calleth vppon me to aduenture the daungerous Lethe, whyche I see by no mea­nes can bee compassed without the Ferrye of Chav [...]n. Wherfore it is iustly alluded, not all the weapons of Bre [...]e [...], are able to arme feare: and Hope (for breuities sake) is that Souldiour whyche standeth to youre curtesye, whose shoulders in this my extremi­tie) as seemed beste by your former opynion) I make my piller of assistaunce. Wherefore (thou radyant Starre) seyng an ea­sye conqueste requireth the Conqueroures clemencye, my trem­blyng toungue gyueth place. Alpha Omega lykyng well [Page] this ready deriuation, so aptly alluded with an vnfayned similitude, with brydeled lippes answeared, Rome was not buylded in one day, wherewith N.O. helde him as content for that tyme, deliuering vnto hyr this fore recited letter, saying: if she wanted a bottome where­on to winde hyr silke, that waste paper would aptly serue hir turne. Whereat (she plucking foorth hir sampler) accepted his wryting wil­lingly, saying: if it serued not for white it should serue for blacke, but (perceauing sodenly somewhat to be inclosed therein) shee turnyng hir backe towardes him, opened it hastely, wherein she founde a pre­tie ring, hauyng a true louers knot of white and blewe ribben tyed therevpon, the po [...]s [...]e wherein grauen was this, Par parirefer, at the ende whereof she found a hande reachyng foorth a harte, who had no sooner spied it, but closed it vp as hastely as earst shee vnfolded it, and turnyng hir face towarde him agayne, filled his cares with a womans excuse, saying, if all were golde that glistered, shee had a harte of golde, meaning as well by the colours of the knot, as by the grauing of the hande and harte in the ring, who answered: what you meane (fayre Dame) I know not, but this I know, that [...]yme trieth truth in euery place. She replied him againe, then holde you content, for hereafter commeth not yet, but N.O. desirous of farther hope, bolted foorth once more saying, I graunt to your silence, for haste maketh waste. A.O perceauyng this wide shotte, inferred, delay breedeth daunger: what she meant thereby I can not tell, but yet it was pretily deuised, seing him hote on the spurre (as in taking his leaue) to make a poste returne, but yet I thinke if his businesse had not bene thereafter, his spurres would haue frosen (for want of heat) vnto his heeles, before he would haue departed: for iudge ye whether his harte daunted lothe to departe or no, when as breakefast beyng ended, and he ready to mounte vpon his Cheuall, taking his leaue after the pleasantest order that might be, sayed, Ladie, though my body departes, my harte and minde yet remayneth in thy custodie, thus hopyng thy corpse to be the houre wherein two faithfull hartes do shrowde, I commit you to the highest to direct thy pathes as wel in the diuision of Venus as Cupide: who mistically answering▪ sayd, The Dyamant cutteth the Glasse. Thus vsing the trade of Dame [Page] Venus hir souldiours, in shewing their myndes by signes & noddes he departed, but (God wote) full sore agaynste his will, thinkyng eche houre ten till his returne againe. Yet was he no sooner depar­ted, but in short tyme after, came I.I an olde courtier of A.O. who seeing in all his dealings the more he ranne, the more behynd, thin­king it in vayne longer tyme to waste, stayed not, but wrote vpon the gallerie doore, Veni, vidi, saying vnto his Ladye: Seing you haue ofte giuen me (as Terence sayth) Nodum in scirpo quaerere, be­holde here your rushe agayne, the knottes whereof are as ready to grauell your wits, as in time past they haue bin to wast my wynd. Thus departing, he gaue his Lady this letter following, saying: The peache will haue wine, and the figge water.

She receyued this letter with a coy looke, saying: adew good sir, I suffer the yll, hoping for the good: but in hoping to take two pige­ons with one beane you are deceyued (quod I.I) and thus hee tooke his flight. She seeing this, red his letter, which pricked hir not a little: and set hir ouer the shoes in dumpes. I wil not say she would willingly haue bene reuenged, but yet I dare say it rubbed hir on y ^e gall as muche as the strokes greeued Venus which Diomedes gaue hir, when with weapon she woulde haue bene reuenged vpon him, but that Iupiter calling hir aside, sayde: Daughter mine, thine office is not to be occupied in warlik affaires, but aboute toyers & louers, wherfore attende about loue kisses, embracings and pleasures, and as for martiall Princes, Mars and Bellona haue the charge thereof: thus all women are not acquainted with Tisiphones nature (though for the most part they are) as appeareth by A. O. for she not desirous of reuengement, & fearing least it should be blowne by Boreas blasts of S [...]mati [...] vnto hir louers eares, brydeled hir nature with the bytte of affection, and clapped him in Sampsons post. For I.I. not minding longer to proceede in suche hauens of assistaunce, seeing Nept [...]ne with his three forked mace in this his long nauigatiō neuer furthe­red his sute. And A. O. for hir wittes securitie refrayned [...]ir pen frō blotting further paper in answering y ^e cragged cliffes of his former letter, wherby thys matter quailed, as one whose browes had Mor­pheus bound and layde to stiepe ouer head and eares in the snowe of Tygetus, vntyl such tyme as Titan with his parching beames hadde turned his bed to naught. But while their wits thus sayled in a bed of securitie. N.O. (dayly troubled with the ruby blushings of Auro­ra, & oft warned by the example of Lady Ver, to greete his lady by writing in the absēce of his body, who sheweth hir grace in greene til Autumne yeldes the fruit thereof) greeted his lady in this order.

This Letter pleased A.O verie wel for y ^e time. But yet as mirth, so sorow requireth a time. For soone after the reading hereof, the trumpet of newes sounded in hir eares a strange amorous combat foughten in the north part of the world, wherin all remorse of con­science being banished quite, and pitie taking no place, so lōg as the baner of affection was holden vp, and the arming weapons of Ve­nus would holde, they spared not what beautie forced to, but lying with l [...]yaltie they forced not of brutishnesse, thinking consentaneum what ly [...]ed best their lust, for mistrust they knew might well [...] [...]et not c [...]ndemne them. A.O. crediting the bruite of thys [...] E [...]ch [...] full ofte resoundeth an vntrouth, (as nowe mani [...]estly a [...]p [...]a [...]eth) who bruted (contrary to veritie) N.O. to be one of their [...] souldiers, or rather hungrie-dogges who filled then [...] like to the carryon Kyte) with du [...]ie puddyngs, & [...] [...]abitation to be in y ^e defiled & vnlucky clymat zone, whi [...] thus [...]ad [...]ansackt hir v [...]ynes, all (cladding hir corps with [Page] mourning weedes, most lyke a vestall mayd, or rather a sacred vir­gin, long lulled in Muses lappes) with vapoured eyes and boyled breast, which earst had bathed him in good will, caused hir secretarie to write vnto him in this order.

[Page]This letter being written with the iuyce of a Lemmon for the secrecie thereof, bycause (as some say) it can not be red vnlesse it be helde nere to the fyre, and eke this sudden charge seemed very strāge vnto N. O. and no maruell, seeing he was accused of his enemies, & halfe condemned of his Lady, not being guiltie of the crime, neither knowing what she ment therby. Yet many thoughts occurred hys mazed wittes, but which to take vnto his senses serued not, neither knewe hee howe to answere this letter (hir meaning lying vn­knowen) the inditing whereof caused him much to muse, for that it seemed rather vnto him the deuice of Melpomenes the chiefest Muse than the wit of any other learned clearke, though in deede he had of long tyme bene fostered vp with Muses mylke, hir cleark like pen he thought condemned his rurall wittes. Yet knowing himselfe in all respectes vnspotted and vndefiled, seeing Veritas non quaeri [...] Angulos, he framed his rurall penne (as he thought) to answere in this sorte.

N.O. After the deliuery of this letter thought lōg, as louers do) to heare an answer of y ^e same. Which seeing it came not according to his expectation, he mounted vpon his bayarde gray, making a poste iorney (being hotte on the spurre) partely to visite his Ladye, and partely to aunswere vnto hir obiections, whiche no doubte but in thundering wise soone after his comming she poured forth. Note here­by howe harde it is for women to keepe a­ny thing secrete, and the waigh­tier the thing, the harder the restraint of blabbing the same, I might doe wel here to bring in the curiosity of louers & the care they haue al things should be as neare as might at y ^e greting of their Ladies. But especially in things about their forehead, bycause it is y ^t fronte of their army which stādeth in case to make or marre, as in mundi­flyng their beardes, cristalling their teeth, correcting their haires, cutting their sublabes, or in demediating the haires of their heads, some again in turning their monchachous the Turkie way, in wa­shing their temples with rose water, & other some desire to perfume their clothes, and set their ruffes after the french fashion. Thus to be short, euery one delighteth in one thing or an other wherby they should eleuate the spirites of their faire Dames, as with fragrante floures, which represent their Ladies, or else with sweete perfumes whiche giue occasion to the prouocation of pleasure, as in opening their appetites, or else they haue taken it of a custome of Venus ▪ who (as the greeke Poetes affirme) neuer departed from any place not leauing an exquisite perfume and odorous smell behinde hir in token of hir presence: and as for their floures (as I saide before) some weare them for a representatiō of their ladyes, as things most desired, and some agayne weare them to gyue vnto their La­dyes, as thinges moste agreeyng wyth theyr appetites. But happye is he [...] (I thinke) to whome hys Ladye gyueth [Page] a nosegay, bicause the propretie of al women is rather, to take than giue, and thus by such trifling toyes louers vse to dye in themselues and liue in others, the hart being more where he loueth, than where he giueth life: the eye likewise wil alway be fixed where the hart is entered, thorow the preaching of Cupids leaden shaftes. But softe bold you here contented with these foolish toyes, vntil occasion serue to bring such like in place. N. O. had no sooner greeted his Ladye with an humble salutation, but (she hardly forbearing the suppressiō of hir hart tolde him incontinently what she had hearde: Who an­swering sayde, the higher the Sun, the lesser our shadowes are, and Asterites keeping his light within, sheweth it foorth by little and little, yet who so beholdeth it thorowly shal find it in propertie most like to the star [...]e. Wherewith and such like he clearely acquited him selfe from all hir former suspitions, to the great contentation of thē both. For such was the force of the preuy stroke of affection (as hee sayth) that beauty hir self semed but vgly in his sighte, in compari­son of the rosed cheekes of his lady, which his outward eyes and in­ward hart had chosen by vowe to be his wedded mate: whervpon he craued of his Trust (for so he had termed hir) that what soeuer he said in hir presence (as perforce constrained therunto) it might bee taken not to proceede of any dissimulation, but rather of a pure and con­trite hart, who (refrayning hir tong for a season) said. As I finde so in time will I loose (meaning therby) (as I thinke) that if she found him loyal, faythful, and trusty as he had professed, then woulde she lose him from suspition of dissimulation. But tel me sir (quoth she) can the force of affection so rule in any creature, that what seemeth not only foule and filthy, but also thorow missehap of body vggly in others sight, the same should seeme moste beautifull and wel pro­portioned in his sight? why not Lady (quoth he) for if a womā hath matched hir selfe to one as vggly, misseshapen, and misfauored as Thersites, a [...] hoary, wrinckled, tanned, and withered thorow age as Nestor, and yet perswade hir selfe, that neither beautiful Nireus, faire Phaon, nor yet Phebus him selfe were comparable vnto him, why shold not this man, as wel like hir as if he were y ^e best fauoured and comeliest person, aliue? likewise if a mā taking to wife one, so vgly [Page] misseshapen, foule, filthy, and misfauored, that vglyer coulde not be, as seemely as a cowe in a Cage, a dogge in a dublet, or a sowe with a saddle, yea such a one indeede as hath no our sparke of comelinesse wherby to delight the meanest mā aliue, though his innocēcie were such, as to choose for Minerua a Sowe, (as y ^e proue [...]be goeth) & yet thinketh hir to be as comely in personage as Aegeri [...], and of as faire a complexion as Venus, why should not this disfigured thing be vnto him (so supposing) an [...] A [...]geria in persuage as it were, & a second Venus in beautie? Maruell not lady at this, for dayly ex­amples do testifie thus much, and more thā this for nede approues: for what was it but blinde affection whiche moued Syblis to fall in loue with hir owne brother? and Mir [...]ha to fansie hir father most of al? or where was affectiō when poore Pasiphae was rauisht with the sight of a Bul? But how far forth did fonde affection rule in Cliso­phus, raging ( non mediocri [...]er) vppon an Image at Samos made of white paciā Marble? In Pigmalion, towards a white yuorie image of naked Venus? & in a yong man a Citizen of Athens, who so fer­uently raged in fleshly lust towardes an image of good fortune, stā ­ding at the Prytaneum of Athens, that most oftētimes he louingly imbraced it, and kissed it most sweetely, being very desirous to buy it of the Senate, offering for the same a mightie masse of money? but so outragiously did it raigne in the three Gentlewomen mētio­ned in y ^e Courtier, that they fel in loue with a gentlemā at the sight of a letter in his cōmendatiōs, whom as yet they neuer saw. Such is the force of fonde affection. If this be true whiche stories make plaine, what maruell is it then (faire Ladye) that I with the sight of thee am rauisht? whose liuely countenance feedeth as well myne eye, as did the disputations of learned men in schooles feede the earen of the worthy Emperour Charles the fourth, who seemest in my sight faire Helen of Troy, Polixene, Caliope, yea Atlanta hir selfe in beautie to surpasse, Pandoras in qualities, Penelope and Lucretia in chastenesse to deface. Oh God why seeme I thus thy dower to disgrace? who seemest rather in honour Iuno, in wisedome Pallas, in beautie Venus, in shape of personage Aegeria, in chastitie Diana, & to be short, in huswifery Minerua. Or how durst I presume to lay [Page] my based finger vpon thy stately corps (I vnworthy thereof) whose relucent beames as yet Gradatim doe increace, whiche shewes by perfect plea thy courteous harte, and eke thy braue demeanure ther­withal: These fonde fayned fansies (quod she) and wanton foolish eyes deserueth a glasse of dissemblyng water, but an x, or a nod shall serue for a due garde, & yet what make you then of beautie by this quoth she?) Plato defined it lady (quoth he) to be a priuiledge of nature: Carneades a solitary kingdome: but Pomitius sayde, that there was nothing more acceptable in an honest woman: Aristo­tle affirmed, that beautie is more worth than all the letters of com­mendation: Homer commended it for a glorious gifte of nature, and Quid called it a grace of God. You seemed me thought (sayed A.O) to define this vpon the beautie of an honest woman: but what thinke you of a Curtisan? who answered: their beautie (sayeth Socrates) is a tyrannie of shorte tyme: Theophrastu [...] a secret deceyte: and Theocritus a delectable damage. This prety defini­tion, and clawyng by course of tongue lyked A. O. very well: but especially to heare hyr selfe commended of hyr bestbeloued before Atlanta, who sometyme bore the bell of beauties price in that hyr natiue soyle. Wherfore (his talke beyng ended) she sayde, his tongue was made of massiue golde, inferryng moreouer, that Apelles pen­sell, nor yet Sulpicia the Romayne dame, were able so to paynte or carue in tables of brasse, the stately corps of Venus rufflyng Nimphes, as was his tong their features to discrie. Not so (deare dame) I would (quoth he) my tongue such vigor had, as to expresse thy vertues all which harte could neuer thinke, ne penne much lesse (as I suppose) with ease might well subscribe, whome Marcia she, that all surpassed hath in perfect worke in imagerie, could not hyr pensell frame in hande thy outwarde shape to graue, although in deede (as stories doe vnfolde) she nought did vse in those hyr liuing dayes but caruing worke, to paynte, or else to drawe the shapes of those whose beautie was a patterne to beholde for rufflyng dames, yet woulde she neuer carue nor drawe the shape of any man, least that the sight of carnall things might rayse such carnall lustes, as might abridge hyr virgins lawes. Suche was hyr chosen pathe. [Page] This praysing of N.O. his rolling tongue did encourage him not a little by polished phrase of filed style to feede his Ladies appetites or humors with some one thing or other, whereby he might fancie what fancie most requyred. And therefore fillyng his ladyes eares with wordes (occasion seruing him so) he fell from this treatise in­to the discourse of chaste Matrones, as in declaryng how that, when Atropos, Lachesis and Cloth [...]e, beyng the Ladies of the deste­nie had graunted to Admetus kyng of Thessalia (at the request of Apollo, being throwne into exile, or rather banished from the state­ly throne of the potentiall Goddes by force of Iupiters fearefull mace) that what tyme soeuer the turnyng spindle had thorowly twyned his fatall threede, if any one would take vpon him death to awarde King Admetus his life, his proffer shoulde be accepted to [...]iourne his former wishe. This day beyng common, & none would yeelde his lyfe for Admetus his sake, then Alceste she his true and faythfull wyfe did yeelde to death for to awarde hys life. Marke how N.O. seeketh to frame his tongue altogither in the commen­dation and setting foorth of women, on whome shee incroched in this order. No doubte N.O. but the like constancie is to be founde in men? Alas Madame (quoth he) I can not for thy sake but say and thinke well of all womenkinde. Yet coulde I say as much as this of men, alluding the one with the other if so occasiō serued. And this perswade thy selfe, whylest life dothe laste, my care shall grea­ter be of thee than of my selfe: yea Artemisia hyr selfe, was neuer founde more constant to hyr make than I wilbe to thee: although in deede the brute of blasing trumpe hath informed the very skies of hyr chastitie, and fethered hyr fame, for that hyr pure loue: who when M [...]usolus King of Caria, had yeelded his lyfe to the fearefull mace of lothsome death, did call for death tenne thousande tymes to change hyr state with his, who seeyng hir suite coulde not pre­uayle, in regall sorte with princely pōpe inclosed his corps in tome, yet did she keepe his harte aboue the ground to keepe hyr company, vntill continuance of tyme had turned the same by course to moul­tryng duste. Then putting the same in a cup of wine, she dranke it vp, saying: whyle lyfe did last his harte from hyrs asunder should [Page] not parte. But softe, holde you here content (quoth A.O.) and yeelde to silence for a season, for my vewyng eyes haue seene your paynting penne, and my listnyng eares haue hearde your rollyng tongue. But who dothe knowe your priuy thoughtes? not I. Why Lady (quoth he) is the winde at that dore now? then I playnly see the more I seeke the lesse I finde. Sometime your wise­dome sayde, the Diamond cuttes the glasse: but as yet me thinketh it hath not rased the skinne. Which dayly cōsumes my languished lymmes with lothsome lyfe, and inforceth my monyng mynde to crie vpon my harmes so huge. Yet wisedome warneth me to rue and not to rage, still lokyng for that lingryng houre whiche shoulde forbid my carping cares. For though thy harte were made of harde flinte and sturdie steele, yet (as Terence sayth) N [...]l tam difficale est quod non solercia vincat. And eke in tyme the brasen walles will starte: whiche putteth me in hope (faire Ladie) that (doing as the Poete Anacrion did by Bathillus, Horace by Ligurius, and the Poe­tes by Numa and Seruius, who alwayes had them eyther in their songs, or else at the ende of their pennes thou canst not but in time yeelde vp the title of thy harte. I trust (Lady) I haue not deser­ued, that thy loue shoulde waxe colder and colder towardes mee, neyther that thy charitie shoulde decrease, if so I haue, then vse the Adamant stone whiche (as Dioscorides sayeth) will inforce thee to drawe it downe agayne. But what neede I thus to mistruste thy discourtesie? who already haue founde thy tongue to be made of pure Alabaster, whiche perforce will keepe thee in amitie and cha­ritie with all men: thy lippes of Achates of Crete, whiche maketh thee gracious: and thy face of Ger [...]tites (not for his colour but for his singuler vertue) whiche maketh thee so amiable, that no man can that seeth thee, but he enamoured with thee. Likewyse the force of it (Ladie) is suche, that who carieth it close in his mouthe, knoweth what euery one thinketh of hym. Wherefore (Lady) I I neede not longer to blaze vnto thee, for thou knowest full well my harte beyng once sette on fire with the pure l [...]ue which I beare vnto thee (moste lyke to the stone Albeston) can not be quenched agayne: neyther my mynde beyng once frosen with feare, can by [Page] any meanes but thorowe thy gracious goodnesse be thawed againe, lyke to the operation of Gelacia a very white gem, whose coldnesse in suche, that no [...]re can heate the same. I well perceyue your glo­sing talke (quoth A.O.) but tell me sir (quoth she) if your harte continually burne why vadeth it not? who answeared, as well Ladie you mighte haue asked mee why the hyll Aetna whiche burneth day and nighte is not mouldered to ashes: or why Eni­d [...] beyng but a little stone alwayes sweatyng and droppyng, is not turned to noughte? who seyng shee coulde not preuayle, sayde, it is but in vayne longer to argue with thee, for I see thy tongue is made of the pale and wanne stone Calcedon, which great­ly befriendeth your secte in pleadyng your cause at Dame Ve [...]us hir barre. Why lady (sayde N.O.) doe you take me to be suche a colde Oratour, that if I coulde shake Dan Cup [...]ds shafte out of my ribbes I woulde? no no, if I had (faire Dame) the hearbe Dicta­mus, or Tragion, plāted in my bosome, the growth whereof should touche my lippes, yet woulde I not taste thereof: although in deede they auayled as muche in man as in the Harte or Deare, who so soone as they feele the arrowe sticke amiddest their ribbes, straight­foorth (tastyng thereof) can shake it foorth. Say you so (quoth A. O.) what make you then of loue? by this I compare it Lady (sayd he) vnto a kynde of stone called Pirr [...]tes, whiche touchyng it light­ly is tollerable, but holdyng it harde in your hande it burneth your fingers before you are aware: so loue beyng once grafted in your harte, vsing it moderately, not caryng who knowe thereof, is tol­lerable: but beyng a secrete kynde of loue, and seekyng by all meanes possible to byde or oppresse the same, it taketh on lyke [...] bedlem, tormentyng the owner with waues of woe, and bur­nyng his harte with vnsatiable heate. Wherefore not with­out a cause did Socrates will vs to deuide one Venus into twoo Ve­nus, and one Cupide into twoo Cupids. It is also lyke vnto a gem called Lipparia, whiche Huntesmen vse to tame their game withall when course of Greyhoundes fayles, the propertie where­of is to delight and enamour all kynde of beastes with his looke and shewe, vnto the sighte whereof they all doe hastily runne, [Page] staying there vntill their followers stricke thē downe, so loue when nothing can, yet it will all men tame: so you (quoth she) when no man can, yet you the game will gayne. N.O. knewe full well what she meant thereby, and was not a litle gladde thereof, but yet bycause she should knowe that he vnderstoode hyr meanyng (seyng it made so well for him if at any time hereafter she should denie it) he sayde: gladde am I (Ladie) Kabiates so to fauour me, that I shoulde not onely seeme eloquent in thy sight, but also winne fa­uour of thy grace. But (ladie quoth he) seyng the Musicke and company breaketh off our talke, remember the Prouerbe, Eate well of the Cresses. Whereby he meant, remember our talke, for Cresses is an hearbe whiche helpeth muche the memory. Away shee went, and nought she sayde but mumme. Gentles of all sorte bothe male and female wanted not in this company, who seyng supper tyme was paste, they sought to recreate theyr spirites, some in dauncing, some in cardyng, some in dycing, and some agayne in pleasantly arguyng of Ueneriall disputations, but N.O. thynkyng his Lady rather to delight in dauncyng than in any other exercise there vsed, (bycause the propertie of moste women is to delight in the same) he tooke hys Ladie by the tender fiste, fetchyng hyr from the place where she satte, and ledde hyr a stately daunce called Thias rounde, a daunce sometime dedicated vnto Bacchus, whereto the gentles gaue theyr whole consent, and helde by handes a rounde: It fell by course N.O. shoulde leade this trace, bycause he knewe it beste, the tracyng of this rounde requyred in the middle thereof a conge, whiche he (forsakyng his marroll) bestowed vpon an other Gentle­woman, holdyng with handes the rounde, but not dauncing, whe­ther he mistooke the one for the other, or thought that at all times he might be bold to kisse his owne though not the other, so wel as then, bycause the daunce was as a cloke to couer the rayne as touchyng his desire to the same, or the daunce so requyred, I knowe not: but sure it is A.O. thought no small discourtesie herein, who for man­ners sake stayed till the daunce was ended. But then she suddenly departed fro their companies, whome N.O. perceyuing, pursued ha­stily, desirous to knowe the cause thereof, to whome she answered [Page] snappingly, One pearch may not suff [...]ce a byrde to prone and prie vpon. Who knowing what she meant thereby, preaced to haue entered the chamber to haue excused himself, but she lockyng the dore, sayd: Auaunt, Go rouse t [...]y self in flaking ferne. Who answered, The pri­uie is paste, and flaking ferne dothe wither. Thus perceyuing hir frowarde nature, beyng very sorrowfull, he went to his company agayne, and argued with them for a space, least they should take a­ny discourtesie in his suddayne departure. Their theame was this, whether he was moste in fauour with his Ladie that receyueth a­ny thing at hyr hande, or he of whome his Ladie receyueth ought. N.O tooke the firste parte, & the other the la [...]t [...], but N.O. his tongue bare the bell away, it chaunced N.O. talkyng of the dying of wo­mens heare and paynting of theyr faces (occasion seruyng him so) he tolde a Gentlewomen howe to clarifie hyr face, and to make it fayre (although he needed not) for Dame nature had played hyr parte) videlicet with the roote of an hearbe called Dragaunce, beaten to powder and mingled with rose water. Whiche cōming to his Ladies eares, Noctuas Athenas misit, or rather Opposuit ignem igni, as it were. But N.O. (freesing as it were with feare vntill suche time as he had heard and also withstoode the boysterous blastes of his Ladie, hastily cut off his former disputations: and sittyng close in his chamber, deuised these verses followyng in hyr commenda­tion, to lay in place where they should be founde before they were loste.

These clawyng verses did N.O. lay in a narrow entrie, whiche led to A.O hir chāber, whiche according to his expectation (as for­tune would) she found in the morning at hir first flighte: which be­ing red, hyr minde did chalenge them as hir right & dew: she made no wordes therof, but closed it by againe, mistrusting the author, & [Page] maruellyng at the vnperfect ende therof, whiche N.O. lefte so rawe, bycause he minded was to greete his Lady with a letter depen­dyng vpon these former verses, before suche tyme as he spake with hir face to face, whereby she might the easier iudge the author ther­of. His mo [...]ing letter in manner of complainte thus began.

[Page] N.O. fouldyng vp this letter in his chamber, Mistresse Angelica one of A.O. hyr gentlewomen hauyng occasion to goe thorow his chamber, and seyng him foulding vp these verses, snatched them away from him, but with his consent, for he knewe she woulde as well shewe them vnto hir Mistresse, as his heauy cheare and sadde countenaunce vsed for the nonce, whiche was his whole desire. For if she had not thus vsed him, he would haue layed them in the place of his other verses, priuily stealyng away vntill such tyme as this cloude were ouercast: which in deede he did. For willyng the yong gentlewoman to remember hir mistresse of this phrase, Eate well of the Cresses, vnknowing to any in the house, he secretely wente his way. A.O. perceyuing the beginning of these morning verses to depēd vpon the other poeticall cōmendation, she perswaded hir selfe then that she perfectly knew the aucthor thereof. N.O. within a day or two after his suddaine departure (as most woers do, sparing no coste) sent many a precious & costly iewell vnto his Lady in token of his great good will towarde hyr. But she nought regarding the coste (by reason as it shoulde seeme of the easie commyng thereby) neglected his giftes, saying: Eche birde can haue corne in the haruest tyme, meanyng thereby (as I thinke) that whyle she lyued in that order, shee coulde not wante what mighte so easily be commen by, what soeuer it coste. Wherevpon he remembryng the commenda­tion which sometime shee sette vpon a rare and sumptuous iewell whiche Venus wore vpon hyr fronte, whose lyke for vertue was not to be founde agayne, and remembryng the common Prouerbe and vsuall experience, Farre fette and deare bought doe fansie Ladyes moste of all, he sought by all meanes possible that mighte be inuen­ted, some pretie deuice whereby to gette the same. Who seyng the wilde horses to haue gotten their raynes at will from vnskilfull Phaeton, who wilfully woulde haue the guyding of the Chariot whiche caried the radyant Sunne aboute the worlde: and know­ing the same of force to prouoke a greate hurlyburly among the Goddes and Goddesses in heauen, repayred thether in haste, whome accordyng to his expectation hee founde almoste besides themselues, fearyng the consumyng bothe of Heauen and Earth [Page] by fire. Where seyng the Goddesses most of all skuddelyng and se­kyng to defende themselues longest from smothering, hee be­sought Diana vppon his knees, as shee loued hyr naturall daugh­ter, to helpe him with the same. Who beyng moued with pittie, willed hym to goe vnto Venus, tellyng hyr that hyr temple is sette on fyre, and Cypres where shee was worshipped moste of all is consumed to naught, whereat (quoth she) shee will not onely rende hyr clothes, but also (neglectyng where) caste them here and there, whiche when you see hir doe, take the Iewell and goe your way. This precept lyked N.O. very well, who (doyng as she had commaunded him) founde eche thing to fall out in all respectes ac­cordyng vnto hyr deuination before, wherefore he taking vp this Iewell, departed with great ioye and gladnesse, and sent it vnto his Lady for a token, who knowyng it at the firste sighte, receyued it ioyfully, although in the bryngers sighte but scornefully, by rea­son of hyr cloked countenaunce: for giuyng the seruaunt thankes, and rewardyng him liberally, shee sente his Master none at all. Thus eche man may see, though the louers purse be strung with the blade of a leeke, as the Poetes faine by Cupide dreaming of their to muche liberalitie, yet nothyng will please the froward mindes of their Ladyes, if affection beare not a stroke among them, or else the gifte be as hardly wonne as this. For Venus perceyuyng hyr Temple to stande, and the Ile of Cypres as yet vnwasted, and seyng the Father of Phaeton had taken vppon hym agayne the guydyng of the Sunne (at the earnest request of Iupiter) waxed very wrothe, with the misinformer of these things, sendyng Cir­ces with a cuppe of all kynde of diseases to plague him for the same. Whiche hee thorowe the aduice of his stepmother Dian [...] vtterly refused. But Venus further perceyuing the Iewell where­of shee sette suche greate store, to be taken fro the place where shee flung hyr vpper garmentes, and knowyng well the bereauer there­of (for nothyng vnto the Goddes and Goddesses are vnknowne) she turned him for his suttlety in stealyng the same into a wylie Foxe. But Diana (perceyuing the same) werried him inconti­nētly with hir houndes, and of his bloud restored his shape againe. [Page] Then fearing the discouery of hyr daughter for wearing the same: she changed not onely the colour, but also the propertie of the iewel, euen as it hanged on hir daughters fronte: So that dame Venus knewe not what was become thereof. But ( ad propositum) whether these moning verses of N.O. moued his Lady to pitie or no, I can not tell, but sure they might, for the thing it selfe was pityfull. No­thing she sayde of a long time: but yet the smothering fire at length breakes forth in flame. For she seing his long absence, and hearing in deede howe heauily he tooke the matter, greatly regardyng also his giftes in token wise, coulde not refrayne, but spent hyr dayes in sobbing sighes for woe, and beyng aboute somewhat to haue writ­ten vnto him, whereby he mighte haue taken hartie grace, these verses following came vnto hir handes.

Which red, be dewyng hyr pen w ^t priuie teares, she answered thus:

What better coulde haue pleased N.O. than this? or who could gyue a better salue? who could haue giuen a better drinke, or Phi­sicke to the sicke? whose languisht lymmes forthwith recouered strength: whose woundes and sores forthwith shoke off their paine. For findyng a present remedie after the readyng hereof, his poore palfreys tooke small reste vntill suche time as he had washed his hands in the liuely drawe of his Ladies countenaunce: who gretted hyr in this sorte. Al hayle (fayre Ladie) whom proofe declares most full of grace, I see in tyme the brasen walles will starte, and wa­ [...]rishe droppes doe pearce the craggie flynte. By this you seeme [Page] sayde A.O. to condemne my body for brazen walles, and my hart insclosed for stony flinte. Not so Lady (sayde N.O) for if it were, I would not doubte but that in tyme my sorrowfull sighes, and sk [...]ldyng tear [...]s would pearce the same. Who answered, your salte and brynish teares they neede not in this cace, for if I haue anoyn­t [...]d your p [...]la [...] wi [...]h hope, spitte on your handes and take good holde my braynes ar washed with Cr [...]sses iuyce, and mine honour forbiddeth my wordes to [...]ue. I thanke thee Lady (quoth he) for this thy vndeserued curtesie, the which my deedes can not repayre, much l [...]sse my thankes may w [...]ll requyre. Whose constancie and s [...]litie forbiddeth Penelope to be thy mate, and warneth me (as per [...]orce constrayned therevnto by the wonderful iuyce of the hearbe Nimphes to giue my dayly attendance vpon thee, not beyng able to starte from the place where this thy constant body r [...]steth. I craue no more at thy handes (Lady) but the fulfilling of thy let­ter: thou gauest me the sort, wherefore prouide the salue. Who answered, shewe me thy wounde and I will shewe my salue. But he not able this to doe, sayde, my wounde is inwardly, therfore thy outward eyes can not perceyue it. Describe it then (quoth she) who willing therevnto sayde, Dan Cupids dyrefull darte deuided hath my harte in twayne, the one halfe consisteth in thee, the other doth remayne. Why then be holde thy salue (quoth she) Manus ma­num fricat, cal backe thine owne agayne, else take thou half of mine to recompence the same. But N.O not so content, sayde: Isidore affirmeth the liquor or iuyce of malowes beyng tempered with clā ­my oyle, annoynted vpon mans body forbiddeth the s [...]ing of Bees: and Diosc [...]ides lykewise testifieth, that wilde R [...]e beyng applied to any parte of man, no Scorpion can sting or wounde him, or if it do [...], it can not preuayle: whiche oyntment (Lady) or wilde Rue if it were auayleable or of the lyke force agaynst the sting of Loue, yet shoulde not my body once taste thereof. By this you seeme (sayde shee) to agree with Plato, who in wryting set downe that the sudden passions and extreeme rage of feruent louers was not only to be imbraced, but also to be desired and wished for, as the happiest and most blisfull life of al. Who answered, I graunt here­vnto: [Page] and sithence (Lady) Dan Cupid hath inforced me to bestowe halfe my harte vpon thee (whereof I do not repen [...]e mee) I wil­ling am to bestowe the other halfe vpon thee, as a thing moste ne­cessarily dependyng on the former, to retayne lyfe within my crased corps. Wherfore, as you sayde before, One good turne re­quireth an other, so say I nowe, Render like for like. Who (not willing to make him suche an absolute answere: (forsakyng hir texte) sayde: If thy harte remayne in me, howe can thy lyfe re­tayned [...]ee? N.O. (not beyng to seeke of his answere) sayde: I die in my selfe and liue in thee, for where the harte is entred, there the life remayneth: but my harte is in thy corps, Ergo my life consisteth in thee. Who denying his Minor, hee answered: I meane not really but effectually. A O. (mistrustyng more than shee needed) woulde not seeme to graunt ouer hastily, but seekyng the pithe and grounde of euery thyng, asked him, what if thy friende bestowe an acre of grounde vpon thee (not hauing proofe thereof) you plowe it deepe, you harrow it well, and bestowe good sethe thereon, and yet (not fallyng out accordyng to your expe­ctation) it yeeldeth no fruyte to requite your labour, much lesse the seede bestowed thereon? N.O. (perceyuing hir misticall propo­sition) answered thus: Lady (as Tull [...] sayeth) Non nob [...] solum nati sumus, portem potria, partem liberi, & partem amici vendi­cant, wherefore (supposing my selfe to be borne rather for the plea­sure of thee, than to mine owne vse) I am content to yeelde my selfe thy man and not mine owne. And as touchyng the acre of bareyn grounde whereon thy proposition dependeth, be it neuer so meane, so simple, or of so small a value, the good will of the gi­uer and not the gifte is to be accepted. Yet Lady I woulde be lothe (if otherwise I mighte choose) To spende my seede in vayne as [...]xion lunos Secretarie whilom did. But not withstandyng, S [...]rs sua [...]ui (que) est, wherefore my destinie appoynted I am con­tent therewith. Me thinketh you bende to muche (quoth shee) for to intende to good. Who answered, the sweter the Violet the more he bendes to the grounde. But N.O. not so content, de­ [...]rous to knit [...]e suche a sure knotte of amitie before they departed. [Page] as shoulde not be broken without the losse of lyfe, preaced on fur­ther, saying: I know (deare Dame) if it were thy pleasure to shake me of, thy comely personage, thy courteous harte, thy lowly mind, thy friendly cheere, thy cherefull countenaunce, and eke thy braue demeanour therewithall, deserueth to matche with one whose feete standeth higher than euer my head will reache: yet (Lady) where true loue, friendship, and charitie remayneth, there goodes can ne­uer wante. Wherefore though I wante the pompe of Caesar, the goodes of Craesus, the wealth of Crassus, the gold of Midas, and the ex­cessiue treasure of Artalus the olde, yet hope I still a blis [...]ull lyfe to leade. Who answered, They liue not most at ease that haue the world at will, but they whome true loue hath vnited and [...] togither doe leade the pleasant life: for, (as Salus [...] testifieth) Concordia paruares crescunt, discordia maxima dilabuntur. Whiche is, by concord small things growe to great, and discorde maketh great things small. N O. liked this well, yet beyng in the vayne of hope, he was not cō ­tent to feede his eyes with the sight of his Lady, and his eares with the pleasaunt wordes whiche flowed forth of hyr sugred mouth, yea, sweeter to him than the hony or the hony combe, sayde, these wordes (Lady) make me leape for ioye, transporting my corps (as it were) to Paradise, placing my minde in a Pallaice of pleasure, roc­king my wittes in a Cradle of securitie, and penning vp my harte in a Castle of comforte, yet (Lady) God graunt I play not as the swan of Menander or Apolloes birde, who ioyfully sings before his death, euen when the pangs themselues drawe neare. For this we see, the Ca [...]te delights to play a lōg time with the mouse hyr prisoner, before she enioyes his death. A. O. looking frowningly, bending hyr browes, and scowling with hir eye liddes like vnto Pallas, who can no otherwise doe▪ for that shee was ingendred of the braynes of Iupiter, who alwayes are troubled and vexed, answered, am I the Ca [...]e by whome thou meanest? N.O perceyuing hyr bending browes▪ turned himselfe about, as though he had bene anoyed with some impediment, & lifting vp his hands and [...] sayde with a soft voyce, Iuno lucinafer opem, which sayde, he turned his face againe, & answeared hir in this sorte, Lady [...]e not offended, for my wordes [Page] beseeme me very well, intending none euill: my meanyng is this, if thou shouldest (as Terence sayeth) Verba mihi dare, vel me fucum facere, then might I iustly condemne thee comparing thy wordes to the nature of a Cockatrice, whose breath alone suffiseth to mini­ster death. She (hearing this) asked him if womens wordes deser­ued such light credence at his handes? whereat hee stoode as Mutus illico, whiche I suppose was, bicause this sentence was printed in his minde, Mulieri ne credas ne m [...]tuae quidem. Likewise shee de­maunded further of him whether hyr mouth seemed to pronounce the bitter wordes of Achilles, which he vsed leaning ouer y ^e walles of Troy, or the sweete wordes of h [...]ary N [...]stors mouthe. Who an­swered, Tullie sayeth: Non solium, vtrum honestum an turpe sit, deli­berari solet: sed etiam, duobus propositis us [...]onestis, vtrum honestius, itē (que) duo bus propositis vtilibus, vtrum vtilius. Not withstanding (Lady) seing the two latter questions wante, it resteth to inferre vpon the former proposition, whiche sithe (as Tullie sayeth) it deserueth no deliberation (for blinde men may iudge the difference of contrarie­ties) I awarde my iudgement by this affirmatiō: the buzzing bees whiche flew aboute Platoes mouth, sleeping in his cradle, haue like­wise left parte of their hony in thy mouth, whiche proueth rather it to pronounce the sweete wordes of Naestor, then the bitter talke of Achilles: whiche Bees likewise sitting vpon the mouth of An­brose being a childe without hurting him, I gather thereby, thy wordes proceeding of their relicte hony, pretendeth me no euill. At this she helde hir peace▪ whereby N.O. (remembring this phrase, Qui cacet conse [...]tire videtur,) vnderstoode hir meanyng as touching that poynt, yet shee (perceyuing his vnsatiable thirste in hauing an absolute answere) willed him to spende the night in pleasant con­ceytes, and in the morning to repayre vnto h [...]r for their finall com­position. N.O graunting hyr the aduice of hyr pillow, seemed con­tent, breaking off their talke for that time (supper time especially mouing therevnto) whiche ended, and the borde discouered, N.O. af­ter his olde wonte and accustomed manner, prouoked the whole congregation and common assembly of gentilitie, some to one kind of pastance, and some to another, to driu [...] away with hastie foo [...]e [Page] the long and weary winters night. But he and his Lady, the one taking his Lute in hande, and the other hir Sytherne, tuning and setting them both to one note, sang distically three slaues to their instruments in this sorte:

These three slaues they sang distically, bothe playing▪ the one and the other by course singyng, nothing meaning thereby but as a preamble or rather an introduction of their song following, to clarifie their throates, endeuoryng the concorde of their in­struments.

Whyle they this pithie song did sing, who seemed (to those whose tētiue eares were distilled with a greedy desire of hearing) to haue tasted of the fountayne Tharsa: the force whereof not only cla­rifieth the voyce, but also maketh it seeme both pleasant and armo­nious: certaine of the other yong gentles bothe male and female were arguing harde betweene themselues as touching this poynt. How the poysonous Serpent, or rather venomous snake named Chelidros, can not onely giue an odorous smell, but also cause the grounde whereon she slides to caste the lyke sweete sauour & plea­sant scent, beyng of himselfe thorowe outwarde appearance bothe foule and vgly as all men knowe: whiche N. O. perceyuing, and seing them thorow their [...] opinions and erronious mindes tan­gled as it were with Vulcanes nettes, stepped in among them, easi­ly absoluing their obstinate doubtes, whiche being absolued, they brake off company, marching eche one toward their chambers. But N.O thinking of things to come, coulde not frame himselfe that night to sleepe: wherefore rising somewhat early in the morning, [Page] he walked a pretie space in a groue buttyng or adioyning vpon the house, castyng as it were all suche obiections vnto himselfe as he thought by any meanes she could obiect vnto him in the morning, (whiche done) he labored earnestly to premeditate suche answeres as might refell the same. But being soone weary therof, he retur­ned agayne: and standing in the dore of the Hall of cōmon assem­bly (none as yet sturring in the house saue he alone) he talked to himselfe as touching the great desire whiche he had of his good suc­cesse, which Dan Eccho (neuer sleeping) cut off diffusedly by the lat­ter sillable. N.O. perceyuing this deuision of vocables, thought good to note the sense thereof, bycause (sayde he, as some say) it impor­teth not a litle to the Prognostication or foreshewing of things to come. Wherefore framyng his wordes in this order vnto himself, he noted Verbatim the clipping sounde of Eccho.

N. O. seyng his talke or rather surmise ended with full sense, spared not to conster the meanyng of Eccho, whose carpyng silla­bles beyng placed in order Verbatim wise, as his hollow voyce pro­nounced them, tended to this sense:

Whiche incouraged N. O. to speake more at large, who was so friendly cheared on, wherefore hee issued forth once more in this order.

N.O. placing these wordes in order, picked forth this sense therin, shielde well thine harte with hope. But beholde, they were no sooner ended, and the meanyng thereof constered (whiche A. O. had hearde with the whole discourse vn­knowyng to hyr paragon, for that hir chamber and eke the head of hir bedstead buried vpon the hall) then shee replied with a shrill and hollow voyce in manner following: which N O. (supposing it to haue bene the oracle of Apollo) in steede of an Eccho resounded the latter sillable himselfe.

N.O. (hearing this fell in a trance for ioy, perswading himselfe that he nought else but dreamed: but speedily recouering hys for­mer senses againe, be gan to vewe the note whiche he tooke of these verses with his penne in manner of Ecchoes replication: the sense wherof agreyng in al points with the former allusion, inforced him to put no small trust and confidence in this di [...]mation. Yet coulde he not perswade himselfe whether he dreamed all this while or no, [Page] (although he knew of a certentie his eyes winked not) by reason of this vn [...]oth sounde. But if he dreamed I know he wished it of lon­ger continuance: & if it were a perfect voyce, much more he wished it longer to haue bene dilated. Whiche according to his wishe fell forth: for behold, once more it soūded in his tentiue eares in māner following, which he in former manner most diligently noted.

It this full stop, N.O. sought the allusion of these posterior silla­bles: which yeelding him greater ioy than harte could thinke, as wel this, as the other agreyng in dependant sense, iuste feete, and perfite Meter, he rated thus beginning with the former rebecke.

This animation not mislykyng him. garded as it were in a Ca­stle of comforte, and clothed with garmentes of hope, there wan­ted no diligent attendaunce in hym to giue vnto his Lady as shee had willed him in hope to receyue his finall answere. Whiche ac­cordyng to his expectation moste happily fell out. For impartyng a rare salutation vpon hir, she sayde, Good morrow my Truste, wher­by he seemed to gather in more and more, vsing this kinde of speach or familiaritie with hyr. Lady, the curtesie of P [...]ometheus hath yeelded me a body shaped with moulde, whiche craueth lyfe not of Pythagoras quaternion, but of thy courteous harte. Whiche if I receyue not of thy gratious goodnesse, then may my mo [...]ing minde soiourne with Pythagoras his opinion, who for diuerse pretences [Page] being transformed into diuers shapes and likenesses, as to a king, a woman, a horse, a fishe, and a frogge, yea, to sundry other shapes, as to a spunge and suche like, commended yet all things before the lyfe of man, as Grillus, who had rather lye gruntyng in a slie with swyne, than change his state with man. Who answearyng sayde, I see N.O. thy fleshe is nought to heale, yet feare thou not, for eue­ry griefe I haue a salue in store, and eke good will is prest to do the best he can. Who hearing these gentle offers. sayd, then is it no ma­sterie for me (Lady) with streaking armes to swimme in a sea of honny, seyng it hath pleased thee of thy gratious goodnesse with tender fiste to holde me vp by the chinne. A. O. replied, I see you buylde your Castles in the ayre. But yet no doubte their fundations may light on the grounde. But he desirous to make shorte worke thereof, sayd, Lady, some on [...] hath written vpō this gallerie dore, Veni, vidi, who it was I knowe not, but yet the meanyng thereof I partely coniecture: suffer me as a testimoniall that the foundati­ons of my forebuylded castles shal light vpon the grounde, to make full and perfect sense of this phrase, doing eyther as [...]lius Caesar did, who valiantly & moste victoriously conquering his enimies wrote vpon his shield as followeth, Veni, vidi, & vici, or else as the Em­perour Charles the fifte, who taking Iohn Fredericke duke of Saxo­nie prysoner, though i [...] deede with great difficultie by reason of his valiantnesse, Veni, vidi, & dominus Deus vicit. A. O. desirous to see if Lady Fortune in choyce so coy, would him to be hir mate or no, seemed not incontinently to graunt, but sayde, Vici sir knight is eminent to conquestes gotten by dazing din [...]e of dyrefull darte, by force of battered shielde, by pushe of pike, by glitteryng sworde, or else by pealing shotte of gunne, wherefore whatsoeuer the authors meanyng was thereby, yet Vici in your sense in no wise may aptly he alluded therevnto. Who answered, might it please thee (Lady) to yeelde vp vnto me the whole interest and title of thine harte, I would not onely thinke and say, but also proue that no victorious conquerour nor valiaunt knight (be his conquest neuer so great or manfully foughten by force of armes) might better returning from the fielde, cause this phrase Veni, vidi, & vici, to be grauen or im­portered [Page] vpon his arming shielde. Then mighte I pronounce the same at the ende of my tongue: whiche winning so worthy a La­die by the glosing talke therof, deserueth in my iudgement a braūch of Laurell tree before the clinke of ha [...]nesse clapte on backe, or ar­ming weedes that battered tower and towne. For Tullie sayeth, Cedant arma toga concedat Laurea ling [...]ae. The wordes whereof flying faster and swifter than doth the teacher of Ganders quill, en­treth and perceth sooner the heart of any wighte, than doth the force of any glidyng shafte. But beholde (these wordes not fully pro­nounced) [...]. not minding thus easily to be shaken off (most lyke to the toothlesse dogge and grudgying that any one should reapt the seede where sometime his senses were contente with the fragrant flowers thereof, wrote vnto N.O. this letter following, wherein he did not onely accuse the Lady of a former graunt or promise made vnto him, but also offered to gage his gloue with tooth and nayle, to hazarde life and limme if (so occasion serued) to proue the same.

THis letter caused N.O. to scratch where it itched not. Whiche A.O perceiuing, not changing hir modest countenaūce, said: I see the prouerbe is true▪ who wil she curnell of the nut must b [...]ake the shell. But yet (as Terence sayeth) who speaketh what he liste, muste heare what be listeth not. Which N.O. hearing, sayd, why (Lady) cā you gainsay these wordes? or know you not y ^e mā? who answered, thought is free, [...] wordes are but winde, although in this case they lie as logs before my feete to stūble at in y ^e darke. But yet, I know in this middest of darknesse, truth wilbe a lanterne for me. I cānot stoppe his mouth, neither forbid, yet may I reproue his penne, con­demne his yrefull harte, & also with his former quill ref [...]ll his nowe debated minde: in token whereof beholde here, how rudely he r [...]ed vpon me in his former letter, bicause I seemed not to graunt what [...] he craued hath. Also for a further proofe hereof, this raw sentēce, Veni, vidi, which you se [...] here writtē, was his owne h [...]ndy worke at his last departure from me, bicause in deede he tried his wittes in vayne. If this you beleue, in token thereof to make ful sense, set vici, herevnto. N.O. thanking his Lady in most humble māner, felte not the ground whereon he stoode till this he had done, & done, he whis­pering the messenger in his eare, willed him to carrie his martiall gloue vnto his master (as vnto one vnknowne) in token that accor­ding to the subscriptiō of his letter, he minded was in such a place, at such an hou [...]e of suche a day, to incounter with him personally, man to man in the defence of his Lady. Thus rewarding well the fellow, be willingly departed, A.O. was very inquisitiue (as moste women are of their husbands affaires) what answere he had sent in [Page] this ence. But N.O (fearyng the worste) not certifying hir of the truth (as wise men will doe) sayde, he willed him to commend him vnto his maister (as vnto one vnknowne saying, not trustyng his spitefull penne, I tooke great scorne to answere the pen: she poynts thereof. A.O. thinkyng eche sore to be thorowly salurd, seemed herewith content (and occasion seruyng hir so) shee brake off com­pany for that tyme. N.O. likewise preased into the company of the yong youthes, bycause as yet the houre was not comen for the In­stie yong gentlewomen to rouse from slothfull sleepe: whome fin­ding idle for wante of some Dallida to make them whette their poe­ticall tongues, and taking pittie that such ripe heads, sharpe wittes, and fine tongues should be as it were anulled for want (as I sayd before) of some wanton & toying Dallida, or else of some lusty yong Phaon to prouoke their solitarie company eyther to laughter or else to some youthfull exercise (leauyng suche questions as intended to the Loue, bycause the chiefest oratours and greatest arguers as touchyng that poynt were not in place) he deuidyng the route in twoo companies, propounded two morall questions in manner followyng. Firste if the fragilitie of terrene nature, or the tere­striall lyfe of man may aptly bende and yeelde, or with facilitie frame themselues to the information of this phrase penned by Tulli [...] in his fourth booke of Tusculanes questions, Videlicet, Dum­modo [...]oleat aliquid, doleat quod lubet. The seconde alluded in the same booke, if nature may and can consent to Tullie his exhortatiō herein, Nihilo plus aga [...] quàm sides operam vt cum ratione insani [...]: that is, firste if pleasure may displease? and then if menne may craue with reason? whiche twoo pretie poyntes helde them tugge with harde holde vntill suche tyme as the Ladyes of pleasure were sturryng, whiche was aboute dinner tyme, for (as Terence sayeth) Dum comuntur annu [...] est. But then (no doubt) as the companie changed, so their talke altered: for sure (in my mynde, the companie of menne is nothyng worthe, if wo­men bee not in place, whose payntyng forme and lyuely sh [...]pes importeth suche vertue, as sufficeth alone to make an elo­quent tongue: for proofe declares theyr fayre wordes maketh fooles [Page] sayn [...]. especially be they somewhat snoutefayre and cleanly, vnder the clo [...]e whereof let them vse what pryde they will. But Phabu [...] restrayning the raynes of his breathlesse horses in the midway of his circut [...] or rounde circle to stay his chariot wheeles withall, these lusty Ladies then ( [...]oary Hyem [...] forbidding the libertie whiche o­therwise Lady [...] would haue prouoked them vnto began to rea­son earnes [...]ly as touching the great affection whiche Plato, Pythago­ras, and Democritus bare vnto learning, whom they say, traueled in­to all the partes of the worlde wherein any thing was that mighte or coulde be learned. But afterwarde, one nayle driuyng forth an other, they fell in great admiration at the sudden and shorte anger of louers, whiche N O. sayde, fayre Ladies vsed for the renewing of loue, but the women snarring at this, defined it in this order. First (sayde they) the humors and sprites of louers b [...]ing exceeding [...]ote and continually boyling, doth contaminate their wittes, and then earnestly shooting at one marke, the wagging of a strawe (thynke they) hindreth the [...]ight thereof. But seyng the occasions of their anger are small, they indure the lesser while. (These reasons beyng allowed of all sides) N.O (remembring the loyaltie which he ought vnto his amorous paramour) sodenly departed (vnknowing to the Ladies) to get those things in a readinesse whiche shoulde performe the gaging of his gloue. Whiche were not so soone prepared, but as soone he had conquered hir enimie (hauing the best ende of the staffe in his hande) but A. O. maru [...]ng hereat, mistrusted forthwith the veriti [...], and fearyng the worste, hyr fleshe tremblyng, hyr pul­ses beate, hyr sinowes shro [...]ke, eche parte fell nūme, hir liuely bloud descended, hyr deadly face bring wanne, hir colour came and went, the crampe ouertooke hir feeling. hyr sheuering nayles started, hyr saphyre vaines racked, hir ioynts in order cracked, yea hyr eyes sta­ring, the yellow hayre of hir hedde stoode vprigh [...] thus was shee [...]lly soule racked, from extreeme agonies to tormenting woes, frō dyning p [...]ngs to gryping grieues, from greedy grypes to carpyng cares, from plunging paynt to sorrowfull sighes, from scalding sobbes to tedious [...]eares, from thence to pensiu [...] playnt. What bet­ter did become hir cace then monyng weedes to [...]ladde hir corps? [Page] who cryed & wished ten thousand times, that earth it might inclose the same. Thus (abandoning eche ioy with pensinenesse) she inclo­sed hyr crased corps within hyr solatarie chamber, vntill suche time as hir victorious Pa [...]agon was returned againe. The sighte of whom conducted home in safetie, recomforted hir moning mynde. Such was hir whole desire to counteruayle his loue. Who finding his Lady in such a perplexitie, rollyng and sweltung as it were in sudden pass [...]ōs of the minde, or rather in extremitie of raging woe, refrayned not his tongue, but sayde: Is this the Target of Me usa (Lady) to blase thy chastitie in mine absence? why speake you not? is this the speare and shielde of Pallas to encounter with my Mar­tiall deedes? what sudden chaūce is this? what nothing but mūme? thou knowest quoth he) the fountayne Epy [...] is not farre hence, dippe thy fingar and b [...]the thy tongue therein, the water whereof suffiseth to extinguishe thy sorrow newly lightned, and lykewise to lighten thy pleasures lately extinguished. Who answered, esteeme not my silence a banner of defiance (my Lorde) neyther blame my harte but good wil, for these my spring [...] of teares. But tell me sir (quoth [...]he) haue you tasted of the floud Dalmatida since your de­parture, that you seeme more amorous, than in times paste or did our presence breede anoy? N.O maruellyng hereat▪ sayde: Let this suffice (Lady) the valiantnesse of Mars made him better esteemed of Venus, then Vulcane that halting lymphalt smith giuen hyr in mariage. What neede you range thus farre (quoth she?) her [...]in you seeme to blaze your selfe after the Poeticall paynting of the rurall God Pan, to trotte on gotishe feete. (Whose patience beyng somewhat moued hereat) answered, eyther you haue mistaken my wordes (Lady) or else misconstered my meanyng: for w [...]ereas I seemed before, more boldly than wisely) to say the valiantnesse of souldiers to be greatly accepted of couragious women▪ and also had of great pryce & in no lesse veneration of dayntir Dames: my mea­ning was thereby, y ^t the triall of my manhoode & souldierly grace, maketh me rather to resemble nowe the amarous B [...]all vnto thee, than I did before. Well well (quoth she by this I see the mount [...]f Mars was eleuated at your entraunce into the fielde. I founde it [Page] so (quoth he) and also the mounte of Venus not declyned when I firste repayred vnto this Castle of comforte. Who curteously infer­red. the lusty gre [...]ne of Lady Ver inforced your harte to liue in hope. Yea (Lady sayde he) and the wante of chaungeable colours maketh me not to mistrust inconstancie. For as thou hast vnfol­ded me ofte in thy colours whyte and blacke: so haue I replyed white and blewe. But beholde, I.I. knowyng their knotte of a­mitie to be stedfastly knitte (pretendyng much euill and mischiefe) sought many a pret [...]e, yet croftie and suttle deuised meane is reduce himselfe (forgettyng his former derogation) into the former and accustomed league of amitie, not only with A. O. but also with hir lately gayned paragon (not in the way of preferment, for why, hee knew it was in vayne, and se [...]ed also very wel content therwith) but onely to vse hyr friendship, if so he sl [...]de in neede thereof, as he woulde hyr to make holde with him, in the like case, if occasion ser­ued. Wherevnto they seemed to graunte, beyng very well content therewith, & not mistrusting his spitefull harte, which so he shewed with sweete and fugered wordes. Thus as it were a newe fayned friendship my [...]ed betwene them: it chaunced vpon a time being me­erly disposed, he tolde Angelica for wante of other talke, or else (as I thinke) of better matter, that hyr beautie made hyr a torcht bea­rer, and that beautie hyr selfe was but a [...]ugered bayte confected of gall and honny, bearing inwardly the contrary to hir outward im­portance (moste like to the double images of Alcibiades) for looke what beareth life without (sayd he) inclosed death within: wherfore it ought to heare in his mouth a scrolle, whereon should be written this phrase Far and neare. This wanton, but not lasciuions talke, she forthwith (according vnto the nature of most women, who can hardly keepe any thing se [...]re [...]e: for the greater the waight thereof, y ^• greater is their desire to tell it, who thinkes they should burst if they should not [...]a [...]e their stomacke with y ^• telling thereof) caried vnto hir mistrisse hir cares. which was no soner told hir, but she straightforth preased into his cōpany to heare his former allu [...], or rather (as I might iustly terme it) illusions. I.I. seing hi [...] desirous of his cōpa­ny (thinking to haue sped the better with his enterprise) was very [Page] glad therof, & walking togither alone in a place (as he thought most [...]tte for his villany) that is, to defloure hir, for this was his only se­king) he tolde hir he bore a hungry Hauke vpon his fiste without a­ny alteratiō of his countenance, yea, with a bolde & impudent face,) who for wante of a Feasant or Partridge, desired muche to gorge hir selfe vpon the braynes of a Pigeon wherof she bore the charge. But A.O. vnderstanding his meanyng thereby, answered very scornefully (and not without cause) that a sta [...]e pigeon was to good or at the least might very well serue a carion Kite to plume vpon. Not so (lady quoth he) I am no carriō kite, neither loue I to plash in a massie grosid. Why (sayd she) do you feare the alteratiō of your complexion? assuredly me thinketh you neede not, for it must be a whote restority in deede that moueth your waynscot face and bra­sen countenaunce to blushe. If needes you woulde haue opened (quoth she) your budget of villany vnto me, yet better mighte you haue done it with penne and inke, who (as the Prouerbe goeth) ne­uer blusheth, then with that shamefull tongue of yours: but thougt your villany giueth somewhat an extraordinary motion to my lippes, yet a small griefe dothe it sette to my harte. For the vncon­stancie and falsehood of suche brutes as you are (vnto their La­dies) is not vnknowne to me: it appeareth not a litle by Demophon, Theseus, Pha [...], Aeneas, and Iason. Wherefore you had neede to rise very early, if that flatteryng face of yours coulde goe beyonde me herein. Why Lady, if you got to that (quoth hee) what shoulde wee thynke of Lollia Paulina the wyfe of Caligula? Agrippina wife vnto Claudius Caesar? Poppea wyfe vnto Nero? Cleop [...]t [...] Queene of Egypte? Domicia wyfe to Domitian the Emperour, who defiled hyr body with Paru a stage player? and yet not long before was [...] proclaymed Augusta of hir husband the emperour: or what should we thinke of Marci [...], who sought to poyson hir husband? Of hir in England in the raigne of Henry the eight, who hauyng twelue sonnes, and lying sore sicke, confessed to hir husbande that after the firste yeare shee was neuer true vnto him? and was not Cre­sida turned vnto a Lepre for hyr vnconstancie? deuie this if you cā.) But yet further to proue the lightnesse of womē: do we not read [Page] that in a company of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen there befell a discourse of a noble woman of Siena, comonly accounted fayre and honest, & albeit she were praysed in a manner of all mē (as she that deserued it) their were some who eyther for desire they had to speake against womenkynde▪ or else to haue a repulse at hyr hande, repro­ued hyr of vanitie and lightnesse? the honorable Lady the Pecc [...] hearyng this, answered: why sir if you will take vanitie and light­nesse from vs, what shall we haue lefte? as though vanitie & light­nesse were their proper and peculiar indewments. How thinke you by [...]as? and yet I haue not r [...]cyted the hundred parte of those ex­amples whiche I haue or could rehearse of your lightnesse: For if I should resite them all, a volume of an hūdred quyre of paper were to little to retayne the sa [...]. But whether thinke you that women are the onely allurers of menne to folly or no, when as their owne tongues bewrayeth their secretes, vnconstancie and lightnesse of [...], as appeareth somewhat more at large by this? when the Emperour Sigismunde was dead, one of his kinred persuaded the Empresse to remayne a widdowe: shewyng hir at large a greate circumstaunce of the Turtle, who l [...]sing hir mate, aboue all other birdes liueth chaste euer after: but she smyling hereat, answered: [...]the that you counsell me to followe an vnreasonable birde, why do you not rather set before me the do [...]e or the sparrow which haue a more pleasant nature for women? and yet of common vnwed­ded hoores I meane not, for they can not bee vnconstant to their mates, bycause they haue them not: to proue then on the otherside the faithfulnesse of men to their lemmans or paramours, do we not reade that Paru, Leander, and Troylus, with a thousande more died for loue and their false Ladies sakes? ah poore Pyramus, what re­warde haddest thou for thy poore Ladies sake? ah poore Thi [...]be (quoth she) how false waste thou to him againe? I trust your rol­ling tongue hath not enioyned me yet to silence, although for a space I haue refrayned the vse thereof. Howe false I pray you hath Dido, Hipsiphile, Phillis, Ari [...]dne, Oenon, and Sappho bene to theirs? died these for loue? howe vnconstant or waueryng I pray you was Alcest to Admetus kyng of Thessalia? or what mā [Page] was euer more constant, faythfull, true, louing, or more luste to his mate, then Artemesia was to hirs? No doubte but I. wished his wordes vnspoken, although he sette a good face thereon, saying: A blasing starre will s [...]oote. Wherevnto moste bytingly she answe­red, if the shooting of blasing starres, and euery clappe of thunder­boltes, yea, if euery gale and little puffe of winde should rende and teare the sayle: no doubte but these boystrous blastes would shake muche corne in tyme. I.I. reioyced inwardly at this worde (if) for hereby he feared the lesse the discouerie of his shamefull demaunde. Thus in lou [...]yng manner they departed for that time, but in the nexte morning she lette these tauntyng verses followyng droppe downe thorow the creuice of the bordes into his chamber as he lay in his bed.

I.I. styng the fall of these verses, rose forth of his bedde to take them vp to read: whiche red, his guiltie conscience challenged them vnto himselfe, although they wanted (as you see,) bothe direction and vnderscription, who (nought regardyng hir womanly taunts, whiche gaue him (as it were) a bitte to gnawe vpon) kepte the by­ting thereof secretely vnto himselfe, vntill suche tyme as occasion serued him to craue hyr company into the open ayre: whiche shee vtterly refused saying, she was no hare for Greyhoundes course. Whereat I.I. callyng to minde the description of Venus after the order of Phidias payntyng, (that is) to sette hyr feete vpon a Tor­toise, hir deniall moued him not, considering, that Ladies of honor, courtlike Dames, and Ladylike gentlewomen are seldome [...]iners forth of theyr dores, but much lesse strayers abroade, least the sharp windes of Eolus, or the boysterous blastes of Boreas shoulde nippe their liuely bloud, or the excessiue heate of [...]itans parching beames, shoulde turne their rosed lookes, whiche are so Christall cleare into [Page] a berry browne: whiche maketh them eyther to refrayne their feete from straying abroade like housedours or else if they peepe neuer so litle into the open ayre, either to couer their fronte with a half paile, or else wholy to shade that phisnomicall face of theirs with a large silken or lawne skarffe, lyke vnto the stately grace of Persian kings when they straye forth of their dores. I knowe some dayntie Dames will not sticke to take holde at the greedy desire which I.I. had vnto the wanton wyll of pleasure: but what of this? it mighte be the merry moneth of May, or else the prescription of August moued hym vnto it thorowe the aduice aswell of the Phisition as of the Astronomer for his health sake. And if it were so, then were he greatly to be borne withall. And peraduenture also Asmodeus of Hell, thorow the continuall company of his amorous para­mour, moued him to become a Satyre for the tyme, whiche haue their toyes moste fitte for Ladies lustes. For euen as the wynde (called Secias) East and by North, hath power to draw the clowdes vnto him bycause his motions are rounde: euen so hath the sweete Southwest winde, whiche proceedes from beauties pryce, the force, to be as it were a Ueneriall rampyre to s [...]urre vp carnall lustes. Whiche once thorowe greedy affection beyng sette on fire, can hardely bee quenched agayne. For looke howe the Bee di­eth by prycking with hyr owne s [...]yng, bycause shee can not drawe backe agayne the poynte thereof without the greate hurte of hyr selfe, as in burstyng hyr belly: so dothe the amorous person die be­fore such time as his delectable dartes (once flong by violent sorce of armes) can b [...] reuoked agayne: by reason that, the repulse of the feruent louers dartes dothe rende his harte in twayne: whiche of force not able to indure, or abyde the deuision (and loue herewith not mitigated) dothe sende his grysly ghoste amiddes the clowdy ro [...]pes. Therfore I would wish eche hunter which delighteth in the chace of this game, to buylde vpon a rocke & not on the sandes, to lay a sure fundatiō, to chose his marke in a mudde & not in a stony wall, least it reboūdeth backe again: & then his marke thus chosen, to shoote leuell with a stedfast and not with a quiueryng hande. [Page] For he that followeth the limitation or prescription of this lyne, shalbe sure to make a speedy ioy thereof: bycause here wanteth a Laberinth to tosse his wauering minded shippe. But eche man lo­keth to matche so hie in these dayes, that the riches and not the loue of the partie byeth a husbande. For be she neuer so soule a pece, misshaped, crokebacked, vntydy, vncomely, withered, misfauored, yea be she neuer so croked a peece, so wrinckled, so olde, or so tanned a hagge, that a wife of cloutes may stande a man in better steede, yet for hir riches sake shee can not wante a lustie yong Phaon to be hir mate, to whome once wedded, then gladde she is to hyre some princockes buye to daube hir lether cheekes, least thorow hyr vggly and misfauored face, he forced be to caste his wanton and youthfull tye aside. And this is the dayly ende of such toothlesse hagges, which matcheth with heardlesse boyes: and also of suche olde dotardes as marieth with garishe ge [...]les, who seing his youthfull dayes are spent, and also such scarcitie of sowing seede, that an ill, much lesse a good croppe can hardely be reaped thereof, are gladde for pleasure sake, to hyre newe and sundrie workemen to s [...]tte on worke, some to plowe. some to harrowe, and some to sowe. But yet who soe­uer ploweth, harroweth, and soweth it, hyr [...] husband is sure to reape it (mistrusting nought) & she to carrie it home to the barne. Thus of eche side they beare a warrant to bidde eche other to picke a worme betweene two forked fingars. For a better ende of bought mariages are seldome seene. Wherefore they hold themselues con­tent, saying seldome commeth a better. There be also certain made mariages betwene infantes of their parents sides, and all for a litle lucre or mucke of the worlde, whiche moste commonly come to the like effect. For being matched so yong (thorow the folly of their pa­rents) not seldome seene it is (loue takyng no roote) a greate dispa­ragement riseth when they come to age or yeares of discretion, eche saying to the other for wante of lyking, folly and not wis [...]dome, yea, goodes and not loue brought vs together. Thus not agreyng, but continually [...]cring the one at the other, sometimes they seeke diuorcement, whiche if they do not, yet better I thinke were these mariages vnmade. Who mindeth therefore to matche himselfe in [Page] such order as to leade a godly life, might doe very well to followe Socrates rule therein, who thus prescribed vnto a certen yong gen­tleman, demaunding of him what wife were best to marie, Nu­be equalem, for so (sayde he) thou shalte be sure in no poynt to mis­like or disagree. But why seeme I thus to stray from my texte? a good penne man will say, or at the least thinke, rither I did it for wante of matter, else was I no perfite dilater in this cace. To whome I answere thus, though I swarue from my te [...]te, yet not from the matter. But ( Ad rem redeam) for I know my recorded notes yee looke for. The sacked loue of A.O beyng wonne as you see by my former style, N. O. was very desirous to know of a cer­tenty the day wherein this solemne mariage should be solemnised, for that the preparation thereof required a long deliberation, wher­by eche thing belongyng to this sumptuous furniture mighte be had in such a readinesse, as no hart aliue could wish it better to be. And iudge yee whether time wanted to consulte thereof, when as this demaunde being made before Christmasse, the time appoyn­ted was contriued or deferred vntil Easter, bicause in deede of force she must so doe, what though he thought it long? it was a brauen to liue in hope. Neyther passed this tedious tyme (as he thought) without vnfayned ioyes & vnspeakeable pleasure, for eche day they fedde their reume, and pleased their appetites with choyce thereof. For first N.O caused (as the time required the twelue labours of Hercules, and also his owne death to be liuely sette sorth in tragi­call manner before hyr eyes, videlicet, firste the ouercommyng of the Lion thorow the ayde of Nemea: secōdly the sleyng of the poy­sonous seuen hedded snake, called Hydra: thirdly the conquering of the foule sowe of Erymanthius: fourthly the death of the harte with his gilde [...] hornes: fiftly the oppression of the birdes of S [...]ym­phalide with his bēded bowe: s [...]tly the loosing of Hyppolita frō hir binding chaynes: seuenthly the clensing of the stable of Augia by his deuice of running waters: for the eyght the conquering of the mighty Bull in wrestlyng: then for the ninth as well the conquest of the horses of Diomedes, as of the King himselfe: for the tenth his ouercomming of Geriones with his triple body. In the eleuenth the [Page] victory of Cerberus in descending for Proserpina: and laste of all, beyng conquerour of Hesperides, the winnyng of the goldē apples. Yet being the author of so many worthy deedes, howe miserably and pityfully, yea in what lamentable order at the length he ended his lyfe thorowe the wearing of a shyrte whiche De [...]anira put him on for the nonst, besprinkled with the bloud of a Centaure, whiche cleaned so faste vnto his vnwitting body, that with greedy grypes it rente his harte asunder. Also in this tragedie was mencioned the betray [...]ng of Sampson thorowe a womans wilt. Whereat some of the company departed with a dogge in their sleeue. Who in mine opinion it becomed rather to haue stayed, and lulled hir fancie in hi [...] lappe: whose stinking breath anoyes the gentle route. But what of this? I dare sweare, they are not onely perswaded that the scente therof is perfite restoritie, but also it to caste as odoriferous a smell to their noses, and to be as sweete to them, and better accepted, than the codde it selfe of muske. But much good may it do them. From such sweete and sauory smels God shielde me. And yet, so long as they perswade themselues this stewe or hoate bathe to be both a re­storitie and perfitte muske: I see no cause but that to them so sup­posing it shoulde be muske it selfe. For I remember diuers prety iestes looking in my budget of pleasāt cōceyts: First betwene a yōg man who perswaded himselfe that his nose was so greate that no ro [...]me be it neuer so wide could receyue him, neither was there any Monster aliue so foule as he, although indeede his nose was in as good forme and fashiō as needed to be. But notwithstanding such was his foolish persuasion & fonde beliefe, that vntill a Barbor had deceyued him in the cutting thereof at his owne request, that hee woulde not beleeue it. I finde also that an other persuaded himselfe that he was a glasse, and none might come neare, much lesse touche him least he should breake. And to be shorte, I finde an other me­ry ieste as touching this poynt, betweene a man of the countrey and his parishe Priest, who lying very sore sicke (and the people a­boute him looking alwayes when he shoulde say, In manus Domini commendo spiritum meum) bycause the pangs of deathe had infor­ced [Page] him oft before to say in raging wise, Cupio dissolui & esse cum Christo, sente vnto maister Parson earnestly requesting him to cō ­municate the holy Sacrament vnto him, before he yeelded vp his ghost: but this beyng at midnight, and he lying warme in his bed, was lothe to forgoe the same: Wherefore he wrote to this pacient by the messenger (as touchyng the Sacrament) C [...]ode quod edu & edu. Thus master Parson (litle regarding the egernesse of y ^e wolfe, and much lesse his soules saluation, forgetting also this sentence, B [...]n [...] est Pastoris [...]ndere pecus non diglubere) by no meanes coulde be gotten forth of his warme bedde. It chaunced yet in shorte time after, this grieuous sicke man recouered his health againe, and ha­uing occasion to ryde a litle way vppon some earnest businesse, he sent to this Parson to borrow his horse, who (nothing mistrusting) [...]ente it him. But knowing afterwarde that he was returned a­gayne, he sente for his horse. Who remembryng his newe kinde of ministring the Sacrament, kepte still the horse, and wrote vnto him in this order: Non meministi, quid mihi dixisti, de corpore Chri­sti, Crede quod edu & edis: Sic ego rescribo, de tuo Palphrido, Crede quod habes & habes. Now sir whether he serued him well or no, I referre the iudgement thereof to some apishe witte. For eche man knoweth the feather of an Eagle is of force to consume the feathers of meaner byrdes. But I will [...]-omitte these cragged snubbes and croked boughes to take holde once agayne of the streight body of the tree. Firste I.I. seyng hee coulde not preuayle with his glosed talke, hee gaue the assaulte once more (not onely by profered ser­uice and professed friendshippe) but also by offryng hyr rare Iewels and costly giftes, intendyng thorowe dispayre to bee the more couragious. Whereof Virgill thus wryteth, Optima spes victis nullam sperare salutem. Yet shee nought regardyng his vayne offers and lesse his profered seruice with professed good will, answered: It seemeth you are well acquaynted with this phrase of Iuuenall, Rara in tenui facundia panno est, and that maketh you to offer such large summes of money in this case: but yet in vayne you spende your wynde, for I knowe too well by proofe, that [Page] Fistula d [...]lce cani [...] volueres dum decipit auceps. Stay therefore here­in thy clattering bell, for Nulla fides fronti, as Iuuenall doth report. In deede Lady quoth he) not aff [...]ction alone, but this verse of Ouid moued me toward this liberalitie, seing Munera (crede mihi) placant homines (que) deos [...]. I thought asmuch quoth she, Ex abūdantia cordis os loqu [...]tur. And thinkest y ^u therfore I am so foolish, so light of belief, so light of behau [...]our, or so couetous, as to accept thy fayned friend­ship? no no I defie thy crew, thy progenie, and eke thy race. I set not so much by the mucke of the worlde, as to yeelde vnto thy fil­thy greedy lust, neither to make a God thereof For whyle I liue, as I doe, so will I alwayes become as subiect vnto this verse of Horace, Et mihi res non me rebus, submittere con [...]r. And I tell thee playne for my laste adewe that if thou were able to mayntayne me as I reade of a Cardinals harlot (although this comparison is odious who set so light of pearle and precious stone that she set the vpper parte of hir shoes cleane ouer with the same. Or if thou were able to giue mee as precious a pearle as Iulius Caesar bestowed vpon his lemman Seruilia, the pryce whereof was Sexagies, whiche is in our coyne sixe and fortie thousande eight hundred threescore and seuentene poundes and ten shillings, yet neyther couldest nor shouldest thou nor any other whatsoeuer in­ioye the same at my handes. Why arte thou armed with Dia­mondes (as the Poetes fayne by Mars) (quoth he) that thou see­mest so obstinately to withstande? yea in this respect, quoth she) and suche like eche one shall finde me. Then for my laste farewell (sayde he) to thee and thine adewe. Who answered, adew likewise by lande, thy lucke in boates is barking. Thus by hir outwarde ap­pearaunce she seemed glad thereof. It resteth now by lyneal course to inferre vpon the peregrination of hir peerlesse paragon, marching pedetent [...]m vnto the barke of loue, whome finding bedecked with a greene robe after the paynting of Zenius, caused him the more to liue in hope. But yet this Epigram written in his forehead by A­pelles: Spring time and sommer: caused him to iudge thereby that it fostered bothe prosperitie and aduersitie with one pappe, and [...]ul­led both life & death togither in one lappe. Wherefore he indeuored [Page] by all inuented meanes to please hyr as well after as before hyr graunt of loue, not onely by loyaltie of seruice, but also by gorgi­ous attyre (whiche pleaseth women not a litle) delicate fare, cost­ly byre, and sumptuous giftes, with the whole discourse of his bu­sinesse, no counsell kepte vnknowne, whiche pleased hyr most of al. But the new yeare stealing vpon them, whose presence he thought his duetie prouoked him to adore with some rare gifte, to imparte or represent vnto his, Lady in token of his great good wil towards hyr. Or for a pledge of his eminent loyalty, with an vnfayned fi­delity. Eche countrey far and neare by a vision he soughte, and in his rolling mind he vewed eche thing therin. Yet nothing he found therein worthy (as he thought) to bestow vpon hyr, yet did his sted­fast loue persuade him no trauell spent [...]aine, who turning him­selfe aboute, and vewing eche thing at will, misliked the vnwor­thinesse thereof. Wherfore he hied hastily vnto the Muses of Boetia the daughters of Iupiter, whome the Poetes fayne continually to dwell at the bathe of Helicon. But yet by dayly industry he founde them at the length (by his owne reporte) in a pleasaunt greene ar­bor, sitting all togither moste huswifely occupied eche one in their proper vocation: singing most melodiously to passe the time away. This greene Arbor (sayde he) was planted in a dale not farre from this former well wherein they bathe themselues, most curiously be­decked with fragrant flowers that keepeth their pleasant hewe all times of the yeare alike: at the hedde hereof eche one had hir seuerall bedde of long greene grasse, intermingled with all kinde of sweete and fragrant floures, the growth whereof shorte vp in heigth aboue the lower grasse (by his report) two foote, curiously carued and cut of eche side, adorned with pinnacles and pillers in māner of a fayre large bedsteede, besette with goodly greene Iuie, twined about with some shoring preuy. Thus was their beddes most formally framed and eke as softe as is the pillow downe. Then had they maniles to couer them with intermingled yuie: the ouercasting of the Arbor serued for a Cannape, and the caruing of eche side stoode for inden­ted vallāce. At the feete of their beddes, was erected a good [...] greene Mounte, with round cirkled steppes vp to the toppe. But there was [Page] to be founde a stately chayre all made of Iuory whyte, wherein Melpomene the chiefest Muse ( Phaebus displaying) dothe place hyr selfe, the other eyght Muses sittyng in order beneath hyr vpon the former rounde steppes. Thus squatted vpon this pleasaunt mount from mornyng to euenyng they spende their tyme moste earnest­ly in their vocation (if no one interrupt them with callyng them vpon, to ayde them in their enterpryse, as the Poetes were accusto­med to doe) eche one singyng by course in the commendation of hir owne Arte ( Melpomene alwayes beginnyng, bycause of hir wor­thinesse among them) and while the one singeth, the other eyght helpeth hir recorded song with the varietie of notes, it was com­monly called the Arbor of amitie. N.O. seyng them in this order, thought verily he had [...]nded to heauē it self. Wherfore his wits abashed at the firste to vtter his mynde vnto them, but Melpomene seyng him to stande in suche amaze, coniectured thereby hee had some matter to breake vnto them, whiche not the imbecilitie of witte, but the bashefulnesse of hys tongue forbidde hym there to vt­ter. Wherefore moste courteously shee cheared him on, saying: what is thy will? feare not but shewe it foorth at large: whereat N. O. takyng a better courage, tolde foorth his will and chiefe de­sire in this order. O Muses worthie of musing, by earnest suyte I craue of your wonted & accustomed courtesie, to vnlace your li­beralitie, extendyng your beneuolence in fillyng this Goblet of mine, with the heauenly and vnspeakeable dewe of your gratious Fountayne. Whereat Melpomene answered for them all as you shall heare. This sacred well (quoth shee) is of suche force, that who tasteth thereof partaketh of our vertues: and by this meanes if it shoulde be made common, wee shoulde in tyme bee had in the lesse reputation and honor. Also our father Iupiter gaue vs the same, condicionally, that none shoulde be partaker thereof, except they coulde define their race to haue descended from the mighty powers. Alas Goddesse (quoth hee) I craue it not for my selfe but for my vowed wyfe, whose byrthe I knowe to thee is not vnknowen. No sir (quoth shee) I knowe hyr race full well, thy Lady is in my libertie, and eke I know the cause of thy demaund. [Page] Thou shalte not come in vayne, I graunt thee thy request, and herewith shee tooke hyr siluer pensell (and dippyng it in this well) shee graued within the couer of his Goblet in wauing manner these verses following.

But in the Goblet she graued these verses following in the same order as she had done before.

No doubte but N. O. reioyced much that hee had gotten suche a gifte to gyue vnto his Lady: wherefore (not tastyng of it him selfe through his vnworthinesse of byrthe) hee sente it with all ex­pedition vnto hyr, whiche shee receyued very thankefully, and would fayne haue requi [...]ed him with such like againe, but it wan­ted in hyr: wherefore she sente vnto him for his new yeares gift these verses following.

Sith Craesus wealth, with Crassus pompe, & Midas golde is skant, It shall suffise to wishe you well, good will shall neuer wante: [Page] Thryce Naestors yeares to liue in age I craue that Cloth [...] graunt, that of your helth good fame & welth, your willers wel might vaūt.

These verses N.O. receyued as thankefully, as worthily, and in as good parte as if they had bene a thing of greater pryce: and in shorte time after, he visited his Lady with his presence, whereas be­fore he had greeted hyr with his giftes and good will. His cōming was somewhat late, and (according vnto the time) he founde them at supper, where after his salutation, due reuerence and courtesie he sat him downe: it chaunced in this supper (as a poynt of courtesie) he offered a Gentlewoman salte vpon hyr trencher, who at that profered curtesie weeped most bitterly, and would haue risen from the borde if hyr trencher had not bene quickly changed. But an o­ther gentlewomā on the contrary nature, weeped bicause she was denayed salte after this at his handes, who made a vowe (for hyr sake) he would neuer giue women salte againe: their contrarietie of natures caused the Gentlemen to demaunde at the boorde, whiche seemed of them to be most▪ testie of nature? she to whome the salte was offered, or she to whome it was denayed? some helde that shee who loued it was most angry: and some helde the contrary, shew­ing how the Doue whiche delighteth most therein, is the gentlest, lowliest, louingest, meekest, and friendliest byrde that is. But the other side argued to proue their reason, that all those kynde of creatures whiche haue the gall, if they delight in salte, of force can not be testie, affirmyng also that the Doue hath no [...], which is the onely cause of hir simplenesse. Thus in open parlance theyr nature was bewrayed. On the morrowe after, N.O to trie the wittes of the yong Gentlemen which argued so harde and so pre [...]ily the euening before, he wrote with a redde [...] stone vpon the shrine of the ha [...] this De [...]ir ( who will the) foure times on a rowe, hoping that some [Page] of them would breake their heades (not a litle) to make full sense thereof. At the sight whereof all men mused, but none would take it in hande: at the length as an vnknowen Aucthor, he ended them thus:

All men desired much to know the true Author of these verses, but muche more the sense and meanyng thereof. But N.O in no cace would be acknowne thereof. His meaning thereby was this, he perceyuing certen gentlemen to be inflamed with loue towarde a lusty yong Lady of the company, who were abashed to shewe their great good wil towards hyr, thought by the sight hereof pry­uily to bolden them to giue the attempt: but the Ladyes burned so inwardly with a greedy desire of knowing the Author, that at the borde Alpha Omega with the reste of the gentlewomen, wished o­penly no greater treasure than his wisedome to counteruayle their beautie. Whereat three droppes of liuely bloudde fell downe from N.O. his nose, whiche ( A.O. perceyuing) mistrusted thereby the Author: and meaning to discouer him in some secrete order (shee sayde) how cheare you ( N O.) I see Apolloe sings, but not bewrayes his penne. Why Madame (quoth he) it is too freshe to be superflu­ous bloud, meaning thereby, that it was penned to mistically to intende to none effect. But what shoulde I further speake hereof? the faggots were dry and the fire flamed. It resteth to inferre vpon their solemne mariage, for the day wherein it should be accōplished approched at hand. Whereof Diana (as meetest thereof) was made ouerseer at the request of hir sonne in lawe, and eke of hir onely daughter Alpha Omega (as well for the ordering of the feast, as for [Page] the placing of the Goddes and Goddesses in their degree.) and for their right vsage and due seruice of them in their kinde, whome D [...]a [...] after a solemne manner had bidden therevnto. Who beyng [...] according vnto hir request, shee placed in order thus. But first by the way yee muste vnderstand, that for the solemnizing of this mariage, a stately, a gorgeous, a costly, and a curious house w [...]s ordeyned, of the building whereof [...]ra [...] hyr selfe that Muse whiche firste inuented Geometrie of voluntary good will became a diligent and carefull ouerseer. The pyllers whereof were made of Iasper, and Marble stone. The pinnacles and ba [...]lettes of white f [...]ee stone, the braue and curious turrets were made of slur­dy s [...]le intermingled with [...]led yron, moste curiously carued of Vulcanes proper handes: It farre surmounted in brauery and coste the buyldings of Lucius Lucull [...], [...]ius C [...]sar, Appian, Paulus Clodius, Ne [...]o, or Heliogabalus, who vsed to strewe his floores with the filings of golde and siluer: yea the sumptuous house of Caligula, whose floores of his chamber were vsually set with pearle and precious stone eche point seeming correspondent to the other. In th [...]s house also was three stately chambers erected, one straight aboue an other, made for the purpose, in euery whereof was a fayre large & long table, at the ende wherof was a chayre of state with a curious crowne all made of the purest and finest golde, most ritch­ly besette with precious p [...]a [...]les, and costly iemmes hangyng ouer the same, for the three imperiall brethren, Iupiter, Neptune, and Pl [...]to, the firste beyng the mightie and thundring God of heauen, he s [...]tte according to his degree & worthinesse in the stately chayre of the highest roume in a Robe of reuerence rounded and horned as his manner was with a fearefull mace in his hande, at the shaking whereof bothe Heauen and Earth dothe quake for feare. In the seconde chayre and middle roume satte Neptune, the God of the lande and sea, with his three for [...]ed mace in hande, and also with a riche tarantyne rode commyng downe to the grounde. But in the lower chayre and lower chamber did Pluto the riche God of Hell place himselfe, hauyng a golden mace in his hande twyned aboute with lothesome and vgly snakes moste horrible and scare­full [Page] to beholde. At this vpper borde nexte vnto Iupiter on the righte hande, sat Iuno that Honorable and gratious Goddesse his wyfe: Nexte vnto hyr satte Venus the Goddesse of loue with a gloue made of floures stickyng in hyr bosome, whome Homer hath termed Golden Aphrodit [...]s: Nexte vnto hyr Minerua that wyse and housewifely Goddesse with a Scythian bowe and a clubbe ly­ing by hyr: and nexte vnto hir Egeria the Goddesse of all shape and comelynesse: but on his lefte hande was placed firste and highest of all Cibile the mother of the Goddes with diuers panes and woodnymphes wayting vpon hyr. And then on a rowe satte Pal [...]as the Goddesse of wysedome, with a shielde lying by hir, and a speare crosse at hyr backe. Diana hyr selfe whome the Poetes fayne and suppose to be the Goddesse of Chastitie, hir bowe and arrowes ly­ing by hir. Cares shee that firste inuented husbandry with a fine plowe share of beaten golde hangyng downe on hyr kirile. And Murcea the Goddesse of sleepe. As for the other meaner Goddesses they placed themselues as they thought good (whome beyng pla­ced in order) beneath them all satte Alpha Omega the byrde, but belowe hir satte Apollo the God of wisedome, Ph [...]bus the God whiche ruleth the Sunne, Cupid the God whiche striketh hartes in Loue, Bacchus that dronken God, for so the Pottes haue ter­med him, bycause hee (sayde they) inuented first of al sortes of wine. Mars y ^e God of warre, Mercurie that craftie theeuish & iugling god with a Petasus on his head & a Caduceus at his side, Priapus the great toole [...] god, Vulcane that limphault smith, Momu [...] the God of repre­hēsion, Pan the rurall God, and Morpheus the God of sleepe, with y ^e whole route of y ^e homericall goddes, which were to tedious here to name. What shold my grosse wit speake of their spirituall & heauē ­ly foode? it was Māna it self, their bread was Nectar, & their drinke Ambrosia. It pittieth me to speake of y ^e toyle of their seruitours for I know (poore Ganymedes) thy feete fainted vnder thee with trotting so oft to & fro w ^t goblets & cups of wine quaffed frō the one to y ^e o­ther. I wil omit therfore y ^e recognizing of the wayters toyle to re­gister (as it were in marble stone) their pleasant mirth their sweete & delectable harmony, their vnspeakeable pastimes and dalliaunce, [Page] their heauenly musicke, and their strange and wonderfull sightes, with vnnumerable toyes to cheare them vp, and to prouoke their sens & to laughter, mirth, and solace. First at Iupiters borde stoode Orpheus, Amp [...]on, and Aryo [...], Lorceas, H [...]rmogines, Hellycontus, and laste of all [...], playing eche one moste sweetely vppon their Harpes, wrinched and set to the highest note of D [...]ateasse [...]o [...], striuing each one who should excell the other. To these their harpes did T [...]en, Ag [...]h [...], and An [...]reon frame their voyces, singyng moste sweetely in the commendation of the Goddes and God­desses at the borde. Of this their heauenly noyse and sweete melo­dy was Apollo, and Minerua appoynted for iudge [...], who bycause they would not discourage any one of them in their doyng, sayde, they played all so well and so alike, that no iudgement consisted therein. After these Pan himselfe began to play on his O [...]en pype, Babys likewise singing and harpyng so rustically, that hee whiche had but one laughter in his belly coulde not but haue laughed here­at. It woulde haue made a sicke horse to haue broken his halter to haue hearde their iarring, who made as pleasant a scraping, as if ye [...] had set (as the prouerbe goeth) Asinus ad Lyram. Yet notwith­standing they perswaded themselues they did surpasse therein: and surely in my iudgement it was good inough to make sporte (as at that tyme) whome they had rather heare (beyng thorowly whitled with these Nectar wine) than the Muses themselues. To this their rusticall harping came Polyphemus boysterously stampyng, with a [...]oute fayre tru [...] in his hand to foote it cheeke by cheeke: after these came Silenus that hoarehedded louer, treadyng the hornpype: the Woodnymphes l [...]kewise followed moste nicely tripping, and tra­cing the grounde barefooted with their clothes as shorte as their knees. And the Sa [...]yr [...]s halfe goates to make vp the [...] followed them daunsing the Anticke. But after all these came the Muses themselues in a rancke, vaunting it so smothely vpon the grounde as if a shippe had laūched vpon the seas, they were in number nine, and (as the Poetes faine) the daughters of Iupiter and M [...]emosynes, at whose presence all things were whis [...]e. At their firste entraunce Melpomene with a stately courtesie deliuered to Iupiter hir fathers [Page] hande a curious carued cuppe all made of mass [...] golde filled with the water of the fountayne Helicon, whereof Iupiter [...]asting, he deli­uered it vnto Iuno, from whose handes it went thorough the whole borde. After the tasting whereof, Iupiter willed them (according as the tyme requyred) to frame their song vpon the discourse of wow­ing, and to diuide themselues into two cōpanies, fiue on the one side, and foure on the other. Whereby they shoulde seeme not onely to declare the order of wowyng, but rather as it were in liuely or­der to doe the thing it selfe (the one side taking the Paragons pa [...]e, and the other the paramouras). And for your better vnder­standing the order of my prescription, lette ( F) stande for the Courtyer, and ( G) for the Courtresse. And where you finde ( P) before the verse, there vnderstande you the man speaketh, and where you finde ( G) before the verse, there presuppose likewise the wo­man answereth. Thus markyng this rule, you can not fayle the vnderstanding of my minde. This note marke also further, that where you finde ( All) sette before the verse, there ( F and G imbra­cing) all the Muses sing togither, and where a lyne deuideth, there the staffe doth ende.

THis pleasaunt and newe deuised song liked them very well, for suche was their warbling notes and varietie of tunes, that than the hearing of them, there could be no greater ioy. But Venus aboue all other liked it most of all, in so much that she caused Hyp­parchus (whome the Poets fayne to be secretary to the Goddes) to wryte it for hir. But least I should seeme somewhat tedious vnto [Page] you, who will not sticke to say behinde my backe that this litle volume of mine smelleth of the oyle and candle (as Pythias the O­ratour sometime reported of the workes of Demosthenes) I will the slightlier passe ouer the commendation of this song to speake of their other pasta [...]nce. At the ende of this pleasaunt and delectable harmony, the borde was discouered, & the Goddes began ech one to play their parte. For Iupiter touching the heauens with his wande, caused them to thunder & vainbrishe lightnings. Vulcane beyng [...] smothered, and swarted with the embers and smoke of his forge, with a knacke of his office shewyng in liuely forme and manner (as with his gestures and motions of his body,) the continuall to­sting toyle of his arte, and the order and course they keepe some­times in pitpatting with their hammers (as a shifte of deskant [...] mitigate the fame.) Cupid that fayre and wāton boy, he sittes play­ing and iestyng, shewing many a fonde toye, and yet prety deuices in the Goddesses lappes. Minerua shee fell harde to hir musicke, singing moste sweetely, whome Pan with his sudden frayments and tumultes disquieted muche. Apollo he shewed there his cun­nyng at the Harpe. Bacchus he beyng as dronke as an Ape, disco­uered many a vanitie: And Mercurie (to be briefe) what with his thefte, and iuggling, iuggled so long, that some of them dropped vnder the borde with laughing, or else to smoother a skape (as Prya­p [...]o [...] did for feare, when he chaūced to see by night season the sorce­ries of the two witches Canidia and Sagana: but mumme lacke, no more of these b [...]gges wordes for forty pound, [...]e, will you be a tel­tale, and carry tales out of the schoole? you shal be no more a La­dies chambermayde. Thus I haue briefly shewed vnto you the merry conceytes vsed at that borde. Let vs therefore beholde (as it were in a glasse) the strange and wonderfull sightes which were to be seene in Neptunes roume: for I know ech one delighteth in new fangles and toyes. First at this borde satte Neptune in his chayre of maiesty, accompanied with E [...]lus the king of windes, and Bo­reas his lief [...] tenaunt, the sea Nimphes and all suche as he thought good to be placed at his borde. His wayters were Tryton and such like, but the sightes were these: first the Syrenes appeared in num­ber [Page] three, Pa [...]then [...]e, Lygea, and Lucasia, the daughter of Ache­lous, and Callio [...]e singing as sweetely, and making as heauenly a noyse, as doth an arbor of Nightingales in a calme winded night. Who had hearde them, would haue thought a Nightingale had breathed vpon their mouthes being suckyng babes, as they did by Steficho [...]u [...] lying in his cradle. They shewed there (at the requ [...]st of Neptune) before the common assemble, their habitation to be in a litle Isle, beset aboute with Willowes & Sallowes, in suche order, as none might easily see them as they p [...]ssed by: it was betwixt [...]a­l [...]e and Cicile, where thorow their sweete musicke, they allured and perforce constrayned with their sugred bayte, all suche as sayled by, to come vnto them, whome incontinently they slew. The Poetes fayne that none euer passed them but Vlisses, who thorow the force of an hear [...]e whiche was giuen him, escaped them, bindyng him­selfe to the maste of the shippe, and stopping his Manners eares with waxe. Some say this was dame Pallas hir aduice, whose pre­scription he vsed in all his affayres and dealings. But they tooke such a displeasure at his escaping of them, and sorrowed [...]o, that in shorte tyme after they threwe themselues headlong into the Sea, whome ( Neptune foreseyng) hath turned into Marmaydes. The sea Nymphes they displayed with liuely gestures theyr watrishe streakes, and eke the pleasure they haue in the bottome of the seas, with the dayly contention they haue with the Marmaydes and their harde escapyng of the Crocodiles allurements. Here Boreas with his swelling checkes shewed a caste of his office, with many other prety sightes whiche were to tedious here to name. But now by course I come to the description of Pluto that golden God with his recreation. At his borde was placed Orchus, Saturnus, and Chaos, Charon the fer [...]y man of [...]ll with his three daughters A­lecto, Tisiphone, and Megera: Prose [...]pina, and vgly Medusa, a Lady of whome the Poetes fayne, that [...] Minerua hir haires were tur­ned into Adders, and they whiche [...]elde hir head were turned in­to stones. Yea, all the hellish bagges of Tarcurs denne, and the fu­ries of hell were placed in order aboute him. Whose delights were onely to see, how Ixion turned the wheele full of Serpents. Ticius [Page] whose entrailes were torne by greedy grypes: Tantalus standing vp to y ^e chinne in water died for thurst. The cousins of Lyncius that drawes vp water continually to fill a brinklesse tubbe, S [...]siphus that rolled continually a stone to the toppe of an high hill, whiche beyng thither brought, rolleth downe agayne. Pethemena boyling in pitch, with diuers others, who there receyued their purgatorie. And last of all how Minos and Rhadamanthus those in [...]orable iud­ges satte iudging and condemning of them to the lyke plagues and torments. Thus briefly I haue discoursed vnto you the whole manner of this mariage, with each priuate collusion touchyng the same. Yet one chiefe poynt of so many I had almost ouerslipped, whiche is, the excesse of their Nectar and Ambrosia, for I sweare by the Stygian poole, and by the Homericall fayth, it had ouer­flowed the whole earth if not Neptune had caused a gulfe to receyue the same. Thus (to be shorte) eache courte of charges beyng bro­ken vp, and the presence of the Goddes discharged, my kercher of drowsinesse beyng vnknitte I beganne to wake my Muse, leauing eache surmise vnto your after wittes. Thus fare you well, and [...] you mery, be not oppressed with dolefull dumpes, repeate each fancie vpon your Lute, weary not your needles, but clappe your handes all togither (as Virgill exhorteth you in this verse.) Clau­dire iam ri [...]os pueri: sat prata biberunt.