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out before me a few goates, that were shut vp in a little yarde neere to our house, (bicause I would not goe without some errant) and went after him, where my desire guided me; whom by chaunce I found weeping and complaining of his ill fortune, and the Shepherdesse laughing and iesting at his bootlesse teares, and sighes. When Ismeniaespied me, she was not a little glad of my companie, and began to be merry with me, although I had no cause to be so with her, to whom I rather obiected the small reason, and lesse regarde of modestie and discretion she had, to greeue my hart with that vnciuill part and bad deceit; whereof she so wisely excused herselfe, that whereas I thought she would haue made me some amendes for all my greefe and sorrow, by her wise and well ordered reasons, she gaue me to vnderstand, that I was rather bound to her, in that if she had mocked me, I had (saide she) satisfied my selfe as well, and requited her againe, not onely by taking Alanius her cosin from her, whom she loued more then her selfe, but also by enticing Montanus to my loue, from that he was wont to shew her. By this time came Montanus, who was tolde by a Shepherdesse (a friend of mine) called Solisa, that I was gone to the forrest of the valley with my goates. And when all the fower discontented and discordant louers met there together, it cannot be imagined what we all felt: for euery one loo∣ked vpon another that would not haue bene viewed of those eies againe. I asked my Alanius the cause of his forgetfulnes, he sued for mercie at craftie Ismenias handes; she accused and complained of the colde loue of Montanus; he of Seluagias cruelty. Being therefore in this sort (as you haue heard) euery one tormented for them, who loued them not againe, Alanius to the tune of his Fiddle by this dolefull song began to complaine of Ismenias crueltie.
NO more (O cruell Nymph) now hast thou prayed
Ynough in thy reuenge, prooue not thine ire
On him that yeeldes, the fault is now apayed
Vntomy cost: now mollifie thy dire,
Hardnes and brest of thine so much obdured:
And now raise vp (though lately it hath erred)
A poore repenting soule, that in the obscured
Darknes of thy obliuion lies enterred.
For it fals not in that, that doth commend thee,
That such a Swaine as I may once offend thee.
If that the little sheepe with speede is flying
From angrie Shepherd (with his wordes affraied)
And runneth here and there with fearfull crying,
And with great greefe is from the flocke estraied:
But when it now perceiues that none doth follow,
And all alone, so far estraying, mourneth,
Knowing what danger it is in, with hollow
And fainting bleates, then fearefull it returneth
Vnto the flocke, meaning no more to leaue it,
Should it not be a iust thing to receiue it?
Lift vp these eies (Ismenia) which so stately
To view me, thou hast lifted vp before me
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