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Rosalynde. Euphues golden legacie. Part II.

Thomas Lodge

Part I. | Part II. | Part III.

Note: this Renascence Editions text was transcribed by Risa Bear, January 2001, from The Complete Works of Thomas Lodge (1883), published by the Hunterian Club. Their source text was the only known copy of the first edition of 1590, which had been damaged, and the text of signature "R" was supplied from the third edition within square brackets, which practice has been preserved here. Any errors that have crept into the transcription are the fault of the present publisher. The text is in the public domain. It has been arbitrarily divided into three parts for faster downloading. Content unique to this presentation is copyright © 2001 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only.

Phœbe sate
Sweete she sate,
        Sweete sate Phœbe when I saw her,
White her brow,
coy her eye:
        Brow and eye how much you please me?
Words I spent,
Sighes I sent,
        Sighs and words could neuer draw her.
Oh my loue
Thou art lost,
        Since no sight could euer ease thee.

Phœbe sat
By a fount;
        Sitting by a fount I spide her:
Sweet her touch,
Rare her voyce;
        Touch and voice what may distaine you?
As she sung,
I did sigh,
        And by sighs whilst that I tride her.
Oh mine eyes
You did loose
        Her first sight whose want did paine you.

Phœbes flocks
White as wooll,
        Yet were Phœbes locks more whiter.
Phœbes eyes
Douelike mild,
        Douelike eyes both mild and cruell.
Montan sweares
In your lampes
        He will die for to delight her.
Phœ be yeeld,
Or I die;
        Shall true hearts be fancies fuell?

    MONTANUS had no sooner ended his sonnet, but CORIDON with a lowe courtesie rose vp and went with his fellow and shut their sheepe in the foldes: and after returning to ALIENA and GANIMEDE, conducted them home wearie to his poore Cottage. By the way there was much good chat with MONTANUS about his loues; he resoluing ALIENA that PHŒBE was the fairest Shepherdice in all France, and that in his eye her beautie was equall with the Nimphs. But (quth hee) as of all stones the Diamond is most cleerest, and yet most hard for the Lapidory to cut; as of all flowers the Rose is the fairest, and yet guarded with the sharpest prickles: so of all our Countrey Lasses PHŒBE is the brightest, but the most coy of all to stoope vnto desire. But let her take heede quoth he, I haue heard of NARCISSUS, who for his high disdaine against Loue, perished in the follie of his owne loue. With this they were at CORIDONS cotage, where MONTANUS parted from them, and they went in to rest. ALINDA and GANIMEDE glad of so contented a shelter, made merrie with the poore swayne: and though they had but countrey fare and course lodging, yet their welcome was so great, and their cares so litle, that they counted their diet delicate, and slept as soundly as if they had been in the court of TORISMOND. The next morne they lay long in bed, as wearied with the toyle of vnaccustomed trauaie: but assoone as they got vp, ALIENA resolued there to set vp her rest, and by the helpe of CORIDON swept a barga[i]ne with his Landslord, and so became Mistres of the farme & the flocke: her selfe putting on the attire of a shepheardesse, and GANIMEDE of a yong swaine: euerie day leading foorth her flocks with such delight, that she held her exile happie, and thought no content to the blisse of a Countrey cottage. Leauing her thus famous amongst the shepheards of Arden, againe to SALADYNE.
    When SALADYNE had a long while concealed a secret resolution of reuenge, and could no longer hide fire in the flax, nor oyle in the flame; (for enuie is like lightning, that will appeare in the darkest fogge). It chaunced on a morning verie early he calde vp certaine of his seruants, and went with them to the chamber of ROSADER, which being open, he entred with his crue, and surprised his brother beeing a sleepe, and bound him in fetters, and in the midst of his hall chained him to a poast. ROSADER amazed at this straunge chaunce, began to reason with his brother about the cause of this sodaine extremitie, wherein he had wronged? and what fault he had committed worthie so sharpe a penaunce. SALADYNE answered him onely with a looke of disdaine, & went his way, leauing poore ROSADER in a deepe perplexitie. Who (thus abused) fell into sundrie passions, but no meanes of releefe could be had: wherevpon (for anger) he grew into a discontented melancholy. In which humour he continued two or three dayes without meate: insomuch, that seeing his brother would giue him no foode, he fell into despaire of his life. Which ADAM SPENCER the olde seruaunt of Sir IOHN of Bourdeaux seeing, touched with the duetie and loue he ought to his olde Master, felt a remorse in his conscience of his sonnes mishap: and therefore, although SALADYNE had giuen a generall charge to his seruaunts, that none of them vppon paine of death shoulde giue either meate or drinke to ROSADER, yet ADAM SPENCER in the night arose secretely, and brought him such victualls as hee could prouinde, and vnlockt him and set him at libertie. After ROSADER had well feasted himselfe, and felt he was loose, straight his thoughts aymed at reuenge, and now (all being a sleepe) hee woulde haue quit SALADYNE with the methode of his owne mischief. But ADAM SPENCER perswaded him to the contrarie, with these reasons; Sir quoth he, be content, for this night go againe into your olde fetters, so shall you trie the faith of friends, and saue the life of an olde seruant. To morrowe hath your brother inuited al your kindred and allyes to a solempne breakfast, onely to see you, telling them all, that you are mad, & faine to be tied to a poast. Assone as they come, make complaint to them of the abuse profered you by SALADYNE. If they redress you, why so: but if they pass ouer your plaints sicco pede, and holde with the violence of your brother before your innocence, then thus: I will leaue you vnlockt that you may breake out at your pleasure, and at the ende of the hall shall you see stand a couple of good pollaxes, one for you, and another for me. When I giue you a wink, shake off your chaynes, and let vs play the men, and make hauocke amongst them, driue them out of the house and maintaine possession by force of armes, till the King hath made a redresse of your abuses. These worde of ADAM SPENCER so perswaded ROSADER, that he went to the place of his punishment, and stood there while the next morning. About the time appoynted, came all the guests bidden by SALADYNE, whom he intreated with courteous and curious intertainment, as they al perceiued their welcome to be great. The tables in the hal where ROSADER was tyed, wer couered, and SALADYNE bringing in his guests together, shewed them where his brother was bound, and was inchainde as a man lunaticke. ROSADER made replie, and with some inuectiues made complaints of the wrongs proffered him by SALADYNE, desiring they would in pitie seeke some meanes for his reliefe. But in vaine, they had stopt their eares with VLISSES, that were his words neuer so forceable, he breathed onely his passions into the winde. They carelesse, sat down with SALADYNE to dinner, bieng verie frolicke and pleasant, washing their heads with wine. At last, when the fume of the grape had entred peale meale into their braines, they began in satyrical speaches to raile against ROSADER: which ADAM SPENCER no longer brooking, gaue the signe, and ROSADER shaking off his chaines got a pollax in his hand, and flew amongst them with such violence and fury, that he hurt manie, and slew some, and draue his brother and all the rest quite out of the house. Seeing the coast cleare, he shut the doores, and being sore an hungred, and seeing such good victuals, he sate him downe with ADAM SPENCER and such good fellows as he knew were honest men, and there feasted themselues with such prouision as SALADYNE had prepared for his frie[n]ds. After they had taken their repast, ROSADER rampierd vp the house, least vpon a sodaine his brother should raise some crue of his tenaunts, and surprise them vnawares. But SALADYNE tooke a contrarie course, and went to the Sheriffe of the shyre and made a complaint of ROSADER, who giuing credite to SALADYNE, in a determined resolution to reuenge the Gentlemans wrongs, tooke with him fiue and twentie tall men, and made a vow, either to breake into the house and take ROSADER, or els to coope him in till he made him yeelde by famine. In this determination, gathering a crue together he went forward to set SALADYNE in his former estate. Newes of this was brought vnto ROSADER, who smiling at the cowardize of his brother, brookt all the iniuries of Fortune with patience, expecting the comming of the Sheriffe. As he walkt vpon the battlements of the house, he descryed where SALADYNE and he drew neare, with a troupe of lustie gallants. At this he smilde, and calde vp ADAM SPENCER, and shewed him the enuious treacherie of his brother, and the folly of the Sheriffe to bee so credulous: now ADAM, quoth he, what shall I doo? It rests for me, either to yeelde vp the house to my brother and seeke a reconcilement, or els issue out, and breake through the companie with courage, for coopt in like a coward I will not bee. If I submit (ah ADAM) I dishonour my selfe, and that is worse than death; for by such open disgraces the fame of men growes odious: If I issue out amongst them, fortune may fauour me, and I may escape with life; but suppose the worst: If I be slaine, then my death shall be honourable to me, and so inequall a reuenge infamous to SALADYNE. Why then Master forward and feare not, out amongst them, they bee but faint hearted lozells, and for ADAM SPENCER, if he die not at your foote, say he is a dastard. These words cheered vp so the hart of yong ROSADER, that he thought himselfe sufficient for them all, & therefore prepared weapons for him and ADAM SPENCER, and were readie to intertaine the Sheriffe: for no sooner came SALADYNE and he to the gates, but ROSADER vnlookt for leapt out and assailed them, wounded manie of them, and caused the rest to giue backe, so that ADAM and hee broke through the prese in despite of them all, and tooke theyr way towards the forrest of Arden. This repulse so set the Sheriffes heart on fire to reuenge, that he straight raysed al the countrey, and made Hue and Crie after them. But ROSADER and ADAM knowing full well the secrete wayes that led through the vineyards, stole away priuely through the prouince of Bourdeaux & escaped safe to the forrest of Arden. Being come thether, they were glad they had so good a harbour: but Fortune (who is like the Camelion) variable with euerie obiect, & constant in nothing but inconsta[n]cie, thought to make them myrrours of her mutabilitie, and therefore still crost them thus contrarily. Thinking still to passe on by the bywaies to get to Lions, they chaunced on a path that led into the thicke of the forrest, where they wandred fiue or sixe dayes without meat, that they were almost famished, finding neither shepheard nor cottage to relieue them: and hunger growing on so extreame, ADAM SPENCER (being olde) began first to faint, and sitting him downe on a hill, and looking about him, espied where ROSADER laye as feeble and as ill perplexed: which sight made him shedde teares, and to fall into these bitter tearmes.

Of all chast birdes the Phœnix doth excell,
Of all strong beasts the Lion beares the bell,
Of all sweete flowers the Rose doth sweetest smell,
Of all faire maides my Rosalynde is fairest.

Of all pure mettals golde is onely purest,
Of all high trees the Pine hath highest crest,
Of all soft sweetes I like my Mistres brest,
Of all chast thoughts my Mistres thoughts are rarest.

Of all proud birds the Ægle pleaseth Ioue,
Of pretie fowles kinde Venus likes the Doue,
Of trees Minerua doth the Oliue loue,
Of all sweete Nimphes I honour Rosalynde.

Of all her gifts her wisedome pleaseth most,
Of all her graces vertue she doth boast:
For all thess giftes my life and ioy is lost,
If Rosalynde proue cruell and vnkinde.

    In these and such like passions, ROSADER did euerie daye eternize the name of his ROSALYNDE: and this day especiallie when ALIENA and GANIMEDE (inforced by the heate of the Sunne to seeke for shelter) by good fortune arriued in that place, where this amorous forrester registred his melancholy passions; they saw the sodane change of his looks, his folded armes, his passioante sighes; they heard him often abruply call on ROSALYNDE: who (poore soule) was as hotly burned as himselfe, but that she shrouded her paines in the cinders of honorable modestie. Whereupon, (gessing him to be in loue, and according to the nature of their sexe, being pitifull in that behalfe) they sodainly brake off his melancholy by their approach: and GANIMEDE shooke him out of his dumpes thus.
    What newes Forrester? hast thou wounded some deere, and lost him in the fall? Care not man for so small a losse, thy fees was but the skinne, the shoulder, and the hornes; tis hunters lucke, to ayme faire and misse: and a woodmans fortune to strike and yet goe without the game.
    Thou art beyond the marke GANIMEDE, quoth ALIENA, his passions are greater, and his sighs discouers more losse; perhaps in trauersing these thickets, he hath seen some beautifull Nymph, and is growen amorous. It maye bee so (quoth GANIMEDE) for heere he hath newly ingrauen some sonnet: come and see the discourse of the Foresters poems. Reading the sonnet ouer, and hearing him name ROSALYND, ALIENA lookt on GANIMEDE and laught, and GANIMEDE looking backe on the Forrester, and seeing it was ROSADER blusht, yet thinking to shroud all vnder hir pages apparell, she boldly returned to ROSADER, and began thus.
    I pray thee tell me Forrester, what is this ROSALYNDE, for whom thou pinest away in such passions? Is shee some Nymph that waites vpon DIANAES traine, whose chastitie thou hast decyphred in such Epethites? Or is shee some shepheardesse, that haunts these plaines, whose beautie hath so bewitched thy fancie, whose name thou shaddowest in couert vnder the figure of ROSALYNDE, as OUID did IULIA vnder the name of CORINNA? Or say mee for sooth, is it that ROSALYNDE, of whom we shepheards haue heard talke, shee Forrester, that is the Daughter of GERISMOND, that once was King, and now an Outlaw in this Forrest of Arden. At this ROSADER fetcht a deepe sigh, and said, It is shee, O gentle swayne, it is she, that Saint it is whom I serue, that Goddesse at whose shrine I doo bend all my deuotions: the most fairest of all faires, the Phenix of all that sexe, and the puritie of all earthly perfection. And why (gentle Forrester) if she bee so beautifull and thou so amorous, is there such a disagreement in thy thoughts? Happely she resembleth the rose, that is sweete but full of Prickles? or the serpent REGIUS that hath scales as glorious as the Sunne, & a breath as infectious as the Aconitum is deadly? So thy ROSALYNDE, may be most amiable, and yet vnkinde: full of fauour, and yet froward: coy without wit, and disdainefull without reason.
    O shepheard (quoth ROSADER) knewest thou her personage graced with the excellence of all perfection, beeing a harbour wherein the Graces shroude their vertues: thou wouldst not breathe out such blasphemie against the beauteous ROSALYNDE. She is a Diamond, bright but not hard, yet of most chast operation: a pearle so orient, that it can be stained with no blemish: a rose without prickles, and a Princesse absolute aswell in beautie, as in vertue. But I, vnhappie I, haue let mine eye soare with the Eagle against so bright a Sunne, that I am quite blinde; I haue with APOLLO enamoured my selfe of a DAPHNE, not (as shee) disdainfull, but farre more chast than DAPHNE; I haue with IXION laide my loue on IUNO, and shall (I feare) embrace nought but a clowde. Ah shepheard, I haue reacht at a star, my desires haue mounted aboue my degree, & my thoughts aboue my fortunes. I being a peasant haue ventred to gaze on a Princesse, whose honors are too high to vouchsafe such base loues.
    Why Forrester (quoth GANIMEDE) comfort thy selfe: be blythe and frolicke man, Loue sowseth as low as she soareth high: CUPIDE shootes at a ragge assoone as at a roabe, and VENUS eye that was so curious sparkled fauor on pole footed VULCAN. Feare not man, womens lookes are not tied to dignities feathers, nor make they curious esteeme, where the stone is found, but what is the vertue. Feare not Forrester, faint heart neuer wonne faire Ladie. But where liues ROSALYNDE now, at the Court?
    Oh no (quoth ROSADER) for I glorie to make all eares wonder at my Mistres excellence. And with that he pulde a paper forth his bosome wherein he read this.

Like to the cleere in highest spheare
Where all imperiall glorie shines,
Of selfe same colour is her haire
Whether vnfolded or in twines:
        Heigh ho faire Rosalynde.
Her eyes are Saphires set in snow,
Refining heauen by euerie winke;
The Gods doo feare when as they glow,
And I doo tremble when I thinke.
        Heigh ho, would she were mine.

Her cheekes are like the blushing clowde
That beautefies Auroraes face,
Or like the siluer crimson shrowde
That Phœbus smiling lookes doth grace:
        Heigh ho faire Rosalynde.
Her lippes are like two budded roses,
Whom rankes of lillies neighbour nie,
Within which bounds she balme incloses,
Apt to intice a Deitie:
        Heigh ho, would she were mine.

Her necke like to a stately towre,
Where Loue himselfe imprisoned lies,
To watch for glaunces euerie howre,
From her deuine and sacred eyes,
        Heigh ho faire Rosalynde.
Her pappes are centers of delight,
Her pappes are orbes of heauenlie frame,
Where Nature moldes the deaw of light,
To feede perfection with the same:
        Heigh ho, would she were mine.

With orient pearle, with rubie red,
With marble white, with saphire blew,
Her bodie euerie way is fed;
Yet soft in touch, and sweete in view:
        Heigh ho faire Rosalynde.
Nature her selfe her shape admires,
The Gods are wounded in her sight,
And Loue forsakes his heauenly fires,
And at her eyes his brand doth light:
        Heigh ho, would she were mine.

Then muse not Nymphes though I bemoane
The absence of faire Rosalynde:
Since for her faire there is fairer none,
Nor for her vertues so deuine.
        Heigh ho faire Rosalynde.
    Heigh ho my heart, would God that she were mine.

Perijt, quia deperibat.       

In sorrowes cell I laid me downe to sleepe:
But waking woes were iealous of mine eyes,
They made them watch, and bend themselues to weepe:
But weeping teares their want could not suffice:
    Yet since for her they wept who guides my hart,
    They weeping smile, and triumph in their smart.

Of these my teares a fountaine fiercely springs,
Where Venus baynes her selfe incenst with loue;
Where Cupid bowseth his faire feathred wings:
But I behold what paines I must approue.
    Care drinkes it drie: but when on her I thinke,
    Loue makes me weepe it full vnto the brinke.

Meane while my sighes yeeld truce vnto my teares,
By them the windes increast and fiercely blow:
Yet when I sigh the flame more plaine appeares,
And by their force with greater power doth glow:
    Amids these paines, all Phœnix like I thriue,
    Since loue that yeelds me death, may life reuiue.

Rosader en esperance.   

Turne I my lookes vnto the Skies,
Loue with his arrowes wounds mine eies:
If so I gaze vpon the ground,
Loue then in euerie flower is found.
Search I the shade to flie my paine,
He meets me in the shade againe:
Wend I to walke in secrete groue,
Euen there I meete with sacred Loue.
If so I bayne me in the spring,
Euen on the brinke I heare him sing:
If so I meditate alone,
He will be partner of my moane.
If so I mourne, he weepes with mee,
And where I am, there will he bee.
When as I talke of Rosalynde,
The God from coynesse waxeth kinde,
And seemes in selfe same flames to frie,
Because he loues as well as I.
Sweete Rosalynde for pitie rue,
For why, then Loue will quicklie flie,
But in thy loue I liue and die.

    How like you this Sonnet, quoth ROSADER? Marrie quoth GANIMEDE, for the penne well, for the passion ill: for as I praise the one; I pitie the other, in that thou shouldest hunt after a clowde, and loue either without rewarde or regarde. Tis not her frowardnesse, quoth ROSADER, but my hard fortunes, whose Destinies haue crost me with her absence: for did shee feele my loues, she would not let me linger in these sorrowes. Women, as they are faire, so they respect faith, and estimate more (if they be honourable) the wil than the wealth, hauing loyaltie the obiect whereat they ayme their fancies. But leauing off these interparleyes, you shall heare my last Sonnetto, and then you haue heard all my Poetrie: and with that he sight out this.

Of vertuous Loue my selfe may boast alone,
Since no suspect my seruice may attaint:
For perfect faire shee is the onely one,
Whom I esteeme for my beloued Saint:
    Thus for my faith I onely beare the bell,
    And for her faire she onely doth excell.

Then let fond Petrarch shrowde his Lawraes praise,
And Tasso cease to publish his affect;
Since mine the faith confirmde at all assaies,
And her the faire, which all men doo respect:
        My lines her faire, her faire my faith assures;
        Thus I by Loue, and Loue by me endures.

    Thus quoth ROSADER, heere is an ende of my Poems, but for all this no release of my passions: so that I resemble him, that in the deapth of his distresse hath none but the Eccho to aunswere him. GANIMEDE pittying her ROSADER, thinking to driue him out of this amorous melancholie, said, that now the Sunne was in his Meridionall heat, and that it was high noone, therefore we shepheards say, tis time to goe to dinner: for the Sunne and our stomackes, are Shepheards dialls. Therefore Forrester, if thou wilt take such fare as comes out of our homely scrippes, welcome shall aunsere whatsoeuer thou wantst in delicates. ALIENA tooke the entertainment by the ende, and told ROSADER he should be her guest. He thankt them heartely, and sate with them downe to dinner: where they had such cates as Countrey state did allow them, sawst with such content, and such sweete prattle, as it seemed farre more sweete, than all their Courtly iunckets.
    Assoone as they had taken their repast, ROSADER giuing them thankes for his good cheere, would haue been gone: but GANIMEDE, that was loath to let him pass out of her presence, began thus; Nay Forrester quoth he, if thy busines be not the greater, seeing thou saist thou art so deeply in loue, let me see how thou canst wooe: I will represent ROSALYNDE, and thou shalt bee as thou art ROSADER; see in some amorous Eglogue, how if ROSALYNDE were present, how thou couldst court her: and while we sing of Loue, ALIENA shall tune her pipe, and playe vs melodie. Content, quoth ROSADER. And ALIENA, shee to shew her willingnesse, drewe foorth a recorder, and began to winde it. Then the louing Forrester began thus.

Rosalynde.
Loues wantons arme their traitrous sutes with teares,
With vowes, with oathes, with lookes, with showers of golde:
But when the fruite of their affectes appeares,
The simple heart by subtill sleights is solde.
Thus suckes the yeelding eare the poysoned bait,
Thus feedes the hart vpon his endlesse harmes,
Thus glut the thoughts themselues on selfe deceipt,
Thus blinde the eyes their sight by subtill charmes.
The louely lookes, the sighs that storme so sore,
The deaw of deepe dissembled doublenesse:
These may attempt, but are of power no more,
Where beautie leanes to wit and soothfastnesse.
    Oh Rosader then be thou wittifull,
    For Rosalynde scornes foolish pittifull.

Rosader.
I pray thee Rosalynde by those sweete eyes
That staine the Sunne in shine, the morne in cleare;
By those sweete cheekes where Loue incamped lies
To kisse the roses of the springing yeare.
I tempt thee Rosalynde by ruthfull plaints,
Not seasoned with deceipt of fraudfull guile,
But firme in paine, farre more than tongue depaints,
Sweete Nymph be kinde, and grace me with a smile.
So may the heauens preserue from hurtfull food
Thy harmelesse flockes, so may the Summer yeeld
The pride of all her riches and her good,
To fat thy sheepe (the Citizens of field).
Oh leaue to arme thy louely browes with scorne:
The birds their beake, the Lion hath his taile,
And Louers nought but sighes and bitter mourne,
The spotlesse fort of fancie to assaile.
        Oh Rosalynde then be thou pitifull:
        For Rosalynde is onely beautifull.

Rosalynde.
The hardned steele by fire is brought in frame:

Rosader.
And Rosalynde my loue than anie wooll more softer;
And shall not sighes her tender heart inflame?

Rosalynde.
Were Louers true, maides would beleeue them ofter.
Rosader.
Truth and regard, and honour guide my loue.

Rosalynde.
Faine would I trust, but yet I dare not trie.

Rosader.
Oh pitie me sweete Nymph, and doo but proue.

Rosalynde.
I would resist, but yet I know not why.

Rosader.
Oh Rosalynde be kinde, for times will change,
Thy lookes ay nill be faire as now they be,
Thine age from beautie may thy lookes estrange:
Ah yeelde in time sweete Nymph, and pitie me.

Rosalynde.
        Oh Rosalynde thou must be pitifull.
        For Rosader is yong and beautifull.

Rosader.
Oh gaine more great than kingdomes, or a crowne.

Rosalynde.
Oh trust betraid if Rosader abuse me.

Rosader.
First let the heauens conspire to pull me downe,
And heauen and earth as abiect quite refuse me.
Let sorrowes streame about my hatefull bower,
And restlesse horror hatch within my breast,
Let beauties eye afflict me with a lowre,
Let deepe despaire pursue me without rest;
Ere Rosalynde my loyaltie disproue,
Ere Rosalynde accuse me for vnkinde.

Rosalynde.
Then Rosalynde will grace thee with her loue,
Then Rosalynde will haue thee still in minde.

Rosader.
Then let me triumph more than Tithons deere,
Since Rosalynde will Rosader respect:
Then let my face exile his sorrie cheere,
And frolicke in the comfort of affect:
        And say that Rosalynde is onely pitifull,
        Since Rosalynde is onely beautifull.

    When thus they had finished their courting Eglogue in such a familiar clause, GANIMEDE as Augure of some good fortunes to light vpon their affections, beganne to be thus pleasant; How now Forrester, haue I not fitted your turn? Haue I not plaide the woman handsomely, and shewed my selfe as coy in graunts, as courteous in desires, and been as full of suspition as men of flatterie? And yet to salue all, iumpt I not all vp with the sweete vnion of loue? Did not ROSALYNDE content her ROSADER? The Forrester at this smiling, shooke his head, and folding his armes made this merrie replie.
    Truth gentle Swaine, ROSADER hath his ROSALYNDE: but as IXION had IUNO, who thinking to possesse a goddesse, onely imbraced a clowde: in these imaginarie fruitions of fancie, I resemble the birds that fed themselues with ZEUXIS painted grapes; but they grewe so leane with pecking at shaddowes, that they were glad with AESOPS Cocke to scrape for a barley cornell: so fareth it with me, who to feede my selfe with the hope of my Mistres fauours, sooth my self in thy sutes, and onely in conceipt reape a wished for content: but if my food be no better than such amorous dreames, VENUS at the yeares ende, shall finde mee but a leane louer. Yet doo I take these follies for high fortunes, and hope these fained affections doo deuine some vnfained ende of ensuing fancies. And thereupon (quoth ALIENA) Ile play the priest, from this day forth GANIMEDE shall call thee husband, and thou shalt call GANIMEDE wife, and so weele haue a marriage. Content (quoth ROSADER) and laught. Content (quoth GANIMEDE) and changed as redde as a rose: and so with a smile and a blush, they made vp this iesting match, that after prooude to a marriage in earnest; ROSADER full little thinking he had wooed and wonne his ROSALYNDE. But all was well, hope is a sweete string to harpe on: and therefore let the Forrester a while shape himselfe to his shadow, and tarrie Fortunes leasure, till she may make a Metamorphosis fit for his purpose. I digresse, and therefore to ALIENA: who said the wedding was not worth a pinne, vnles there were some cheere, nor that bargaine well made that was not striken vp with a cuppe of wine: and therefore she wild GANIMEDE to set out such cates as they had, and to drawe out her bottle, charging the Forrester as hee had imagined his loues, so to conceipt these cates to be a most sumptuous banquet, and to take a Mazer of wine and to drinke to his ROSALYNDE: which ROSADER did; and so they passed awaye the day in manie pleasant deuices. Till at last ALIENA perceiued time would tarrie no man, and that the Sunne waxed verie lowe, readie to set: which made her shorten their amorous prattle, and ende the Banquet with a fresh Carrowse; which done, they all three rose, and ALIENA broke off thus.
    Now Forrester, PHŒBUS that all this while hath been partaker of our sports; seeing euerie Woodman more fortunate in his loues, than hee in his fancies; seeing thou hast wonne ROSALYNDE, when he could not wooe DAPHNE, hides his head for shame, and bids vs adiew in a clowde; our sheep they poore wantons wander towards their foldes, as taught by Nature their due times of rest: which tells vs Forrester, we must depart. Marrie, though there were a marriage, yet I must carrie (this night) the Bryde with me, and to morrow morning if you meete vs heere, Ile promise to deliuer her as good a maide as I finde her. Content quoth ROSADER, tis enough for me in the night to dreame on loue, that in the day am so fond to doate on loue: and so till to morrow you to your Foldes, and I will to my Lodge; and thus the Forrester and they parted. He was no sooner gone, but ALIENA and GANIMEDE went and folded their flockes, and taking vp their hookes, their bagges, and their bottles, hied homeward. By the waye, ALIENA to make the time seeme short, began to prattle with GANIMEDE thus; I haue heard them say, that what the Fates forepoint, that Fortune pricketh downe with a period, that the starres are sticklers in VENUS Court, and desire hangs at the heele of Destinie; if it be so, then by all probable coniectures, this match will be a marriage: for if Augurisme be authenticall, or the deuines doomes principles, it cannot bee but such a shaddowe portends the issue of a substaunce, for to that ende did the Gods force the conceipt of this Eglogue, that they might discouer the ensuing consent of your affections: so that eare it bee long, I hope (in earnest) to daunce at your Wedding.
    Tush (quoth GANIMEDE) al is not malte that is cast on the kill, there goes more words to a bargaine than one, loue feeles no footing in the aire, and fancie holdes it slipperie harbour to nestle in the tongue: the match is not yet so surely made but he may misse of his market; but if Fortune be his friend, I will not be his foe: and so I pray you (gentle Mistresse ALIENA) take it. I take all things well (quoth shee) that is your content, and am glad ROSADER is yours: for now I hope your thoughts will be at quiet; your eye that euer looked at Loue, will nowe lende a glaunce on your Lambes: and then they will proue more buxsome and you more blythe, for the eyes of the Master feedes the Cattle. As thus they were in chat, they spied old CORIDON where hee came plodding to meete them: who tolde them supper was readie: which newes made them speede home. Where we leaue them to the next morrow, and returne to SALADYNE.
    all this while did poore SALADYNE (banished from Bourdeaux and the Court of France by TORISMOND) wander vp and downe in the Forrest of Arden, thinking to get to Lions, and so trauell through Germanie into Italy: but the Forrest being full of by-pathes, and he vnskilfull of the Countrey coast, slipt out of the way, and chaunced vp into the Desart, not farre from the place where GERISMOND was, and his brother ROSADER. SALADYNE wearie with wandring vp and downe, and hungrie with long fasting; finding a little caue by the side of a thicket, eating such frute as the Forrest did affoord, and contenting himselfe with such drinke as Nature had prouided, and thirst made delicate, after his repast he fell in a dead sleepe. As thus he lay, a hungrie Lion came hunting downe the edge of the groue for pray, and espying SALADYNE began to ceaze upon him: but seeing he lay still without anie motion, he left to touch him, for that Lions hate to pray on dead carkasses: and yet desirous to haue some foode, the Lion lay downe and watcht to see if hee would stirre. While thus SALADYNE slept secure, fortune that was careful ouer her champion, began to smile, and brought it so to passe, that ROSADER (hauing striken a Deere that but lightly hurt fled through the thicket) came pacing downe by the groue with a Boare speare in his hand in great hast, he spied where a man lay a sleepe, and a Lion fast by him: amazed at this sight, as hee stood gazing, his nose on the sodaine bled; which made him coniecture it was some friend of his. Whereuppon drawing more nigh, hee might easely discerne his visage, and perceiued by his phisnomie that it was his brother SALADYNE: which draue ROSADER into a deepe passion, as a man perplexed at the sight of so vnexpected a chaunce, maruelling what shoulde driue his brother to trauers those secrete Desarts without anie companie in such distresse and forlorne sort. But the present time craued no such doubting ambages: for either he must resolue to hazard his life for his reliefe, or els steale awaye, and leaue him to the crueltie of the Lion. In which doubt, he thus briefly debated with himselfe.

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