they came out from the bottome of her hart. Faire Shepherdesse, borne onely for the vnrest and torment of a soule, that hitherto hath liued as exempt and free as possible might be, who can choose, but tell thee that thou requirest at my handes, hauing now made thee the sole Mistresse of my libertie? Vnhappie me, that the chaunge of my habit hath deceiued thee, although the deceit redoundes to mine owne harme: The muffler, which thou intreatest me to pull off, behold, to please thee, I take away, but to tell thee my name makes not much to thy purpose, when as heereafter (though I would not) thou shalt see me oftener then thou maiest well suffer. And speaking these wordes, and pulling off her muffler, mine eies behelde a face, whose countenance, though it was somewhat manlike, yet was the fauour and beautie of it so singular, that it made me to woonder. But Ismenia prosecuting her speech, saide. And bicause thou maist knowe (faire Shepherdesse) the summe of this paine which thy beautie hath made me feele, and that the wordes which haue pas∣sed betweene vs but in sport, are true, knowe, that I am a man, and not a woman, as thou takest me to be: These Shepherdesses, which thou seest heere in my companie (my kinswomen and familiar acquaintance) to make some sport and to laugh, appa∣relled me in this sort; for otherwise I could not haue staied in the temple, by reason of the olde custome so strictly obserued heere. When I heard these wordes, and perceiued as I said before, not those effeminate lookes in her face, nor that demure modestie in her eies, which maidens for the most part are woont to haue, I verily beleeued that all was true that she tolde me, and then was so far besides my selfe, that I knew not what to answere her. Yet mine eies did still contemplate that most perfect beautie, and marked those words, which with so great dissimulation she had tolde me: for neuer could any make a false and fained tale seeme more apparant and true as that craftie and cruell Shepherdesse did. Then I felt my selfe so intangled in her loue, and so well content to heare that she was enamoured of me againe, as (gentle Shepherdes) I am not able to declare. And though I had not till then any experience of loue passions (a cause sufficient not to make me expresse them) yet forcing my selfe the best I could, in this sort I saide vnto her. Faire Shepherdesse, that hast (to make me liue without libertie, or for some other respect, which fortune best knowes) taken vpon thee the habit of her, who for thy loue hath entirely vowed her affections to thee, thine owne had sufficed to ouercome me, without making me yeelde with mine owne weapons. But who can flie from that, which fortune hath allotted her? Thrise happy might I haue thought my selfe, if on purpose thou hadst done that, which by chaunce, and onely for merriment thou hast deuised. For, if by changing thy naturall habit, it had bene onely to haue seene me, and to vnfolde to me thy amorous desires, I would then haue attributed it to mine owne desertes, and (no doubt) to thy great affection, but seeing that the intent was of an other conse∣quence, although the effect hath resulted to this thou seest, it contents me not so greatly (I must needes confesse) being done in such sort as I haue saide. And let not this desire amaze nor greeue thee; for there is no greater signe of a perfect louer, then to desire to be beloued of him, to whom she hath wholy offered vp her libertie. Whereupon by that thou hast heard me vtter, thou maiest gather, how thy sight hath blinded my vnderstanding, and made me become such an one as I am, besee∣ching thee to vse the power thou hast ouer me, in such sort, that I may entertaine this opinion, to thinke my selfe happie and fortunate to the end of our loue, the which for my part (while life doth last) shall not die in my faithfull and louing brest. Deceitfull Ismenia was so skilfull to frame a suttle answere to my simple wordes,
