Page 034

seene himselfe in a good and ioyfull estate: the which by experience (as yesterday thou didst tell me) I neuer came yet to know: for the life (which I passe) is so far from rest, and deliuered vp to sorrowfull imaginations, that a thousand times in vaine I seeke out new inuentions and means to deceiue and alter my tast. For remedy wher∣of, I do sometimes think, That I am deerely beloued of my mistresse, which thought (without opening any further passage to this fiction) I retaine as long as I can in my mind: but when I consider afterwards the truth of my estate, I am so confoun∣ded with my selfe, as I am not able to expresse it, and then (against my will) am voide of all patience: since then a bare imagination is not such a thing, that may be suffe∣red, behold what the truth is able to do? I would to God (Syluanus) I were free (said Seluagia) from this franticke passion that I might speake the better in it, as in such a case it were most needfull. For thou canst not know any greater signe of loue, whe∣ther it be little or much, or of passion, whether it be small or great, then by hearing her tell it, that feeles it: for a passion extremely felt can neuer be well manifested by her toong that suffers it. So that I (being subiect to my mishap, and sorrowfull for that disgrace, which Alanius doth me) am not with words able to expresse the Chaos of griefe wherin I am ouerwhelmed. Wherefore I leaue it to thy consideration and iudgement, as to things wherin I may put an assured confidence and trust. I know not Seluagia, what to say (replied Syluanus sighing) nor what remedies we may hope for of our harms, dost thou (perhaps) know any? How should I not know (said Sel∣uagia) And wottest thou what it is? To leaue of to loue. And this maiest thou do thy selfe (said Syluanus.) As fortune and time shall ordaine (saide Seluagia.) Then I tell thee (said Syluanus maruelling much) that thou needest not trouble thy selfe so much by complayning of thy griefe, bicause that loue, which is subiect to time and fortune, cannot be so extreme, to giue one any trouble or paine that suffers it. And canst thou deny (said Seluagia, againe) that it is not possible to haue an end in thy loue, either by death or absence, or by being fauoured in some other place, where thy sutes & serui∣ces may be more esteemed, and better recompenced? I will not make my selfe (saide Syluanus) such an hypocrite in loue, that I will not graunt, what thou saiest may be possible, but not in me. For woe betide that louer, that (though he see such for∣tune fall to others) would haue so little constancie in his loue, to thinke that any thing (contrary to his faith) may befall vnto him. I am a woman (said Seluagia) and thou shalt see by me if I loue not as much as any may. And yet this offendes not my loue to thinke, that there may be an end of euery thing, be they neuer so firme and strong, since it is the propertie of time and fortune with their vsuall changes to alter all things, as they haue euer done. And thinke not Shepherd, that any obliui∣ous thought of his loue, that hath so iniuriously forgotten me, makes me speake this, but that, which I haue seene by experience in these passions. And talking thus together they heard a Shepherd singing, as he came along the medow before them, whom they knew by and by to be the forgotten Syrenus, who, to the tune of his Re∣becke came singing this Sonnet.

GOe now my thoughts, where one day you were going,
When neither fortune, nor my loue did lower:
Now shall you see that changed day and hower,
Your ioies decaied, and vncouth sorrowes growing?
And in the glasse, where I was oft bestowing
Mine eies, and in that sweete and pleasant flower,