wouen (as it were) with the greene bowes of the other, represented a goodly sight and delight to the eie. The Nymphes and Shepherds tooke a pathway betweene the brooke and the faire arbours, who had not gone farre, when they came to a large greene meadow, wherein was a very faire great moate of cleere water, from whence the brooke did spring, that with great force ranne thorow the valley. In the middes of that moate was an Iland, wherein grew some greene trees, amongst the which stoode a Sheepe-cote, and about the same a flocke of sheepe went seeding of the greene and tender grasse. The Nymphes thinking this a fit place to passe away the night, which was neere at hand, vpon a fine causey of stones most artificiallie (as it seemed) laide in order, they passed all ouer into the iland, and went directly to the cote which they sawe before them. But Polydora going in first (for she was a lit∣tle before the rest) was scarce entred in when she came foorth as fast againe, and looking towards her companie, did put her singer vpon her mouth, in token that they should come softly on & without any noise, which the Nymphes & the Shep∣herdes perceiuing, with the least they could, came into the cote, and looking into it, espied a bed in a corner, not made of any other thing, then of the greene bowes of those Sicamours, that were growing about it, and of the greene grasse, that did growe about the water brinkes. Vpon the which they sawe a Shepherdesse lying a sleepe, whose beautie stroke them with no lesse admiration, then if on a sudden they had seene faire Diana before their eies. She had on a light skie coloured petti∣coate, and vnder that a gorget of so passing fine net-worke, that they might at plea∣sure behold the delicate proportion of her snow white brest, and comely feature of her euen body, for the vpper part (being of the same colour with the rest) hung so loose about her, that they might take a perfect view of her fine and daintie waste. Her yellowe haire in brightnes surpassing the sunnie beames, were loose and hang∣ing downe without any order. But neuer did frizeling and adorned periwigge of any Lady in stately court beautifie in such sort, as the carelesse disorder that these had; and her white legge, being bare by the negligence of her harmelesse sleepe, laie seemely out of her petticoate, but not so much, that the lookers on might per∣ceiue any part, but what with modestie they might well beholde. And by manie teares that (sleeping yet) went trickling downe her faire and rosie cheekes, her sleepe (it seemed) should not hinder her sorrowfull imaginations. The Nymphes and Shepherds were so amazed at her beautie, and at her inward sorrow, which by out∣ward signes they well coniectured did trouble her waking soule, that they knew not what to saie, but were forced to shed teares for pittie of those, which they sawe the Shepherdesse powre foorth: who (as with pittie and admiration they were looking on her) turned her on the other side, and with a greeuous sigh fetch’t from the bot∣tome of her hart, saide thus to her selfe. How vnfortunate art thou Belisa, that thy greefe consisteth in no other thing, but in that thy life is of so small value, that it is not able to pay those things with extinction thereof, which by thine owne occasion are destroyed and lost? And then with a sudden sursault she awaked in such sort, that the end of her daies (it seemed) was neere at hand: But when she sawe the three Nymphes, and two such faire Shepherdesses with two Shepherds, she was so ama∣zed, that it was a good while before she came to her selfe againe, who at last lifting vp her eies to looke on them againe, without stopping her teares, which continually she powred out, or putting silence to her burning sighes, which her afflicted hart sent foorth, began to speake in this sort. Howe great a comfort to so comfortles a sonle as mine is should it be, if I were assured, that none by worde nor deede woulde
