rie instant when he addressed his to looke on me, which forcible encounter both of vs would willingly had not befell, bicause that modestie and shame sharpely rebu∣ked me, and feare left not him without bitter punishment. But he to dissemble his newe greefe, began to discourse with me in matters cleane different from those, which he woulde haue imparted to me, to some of which I answered againe, my thoughts and sences being then more careful to see, if by the alteration of his coun∣tenance, or mildenes in his words he shewed any signes of loue, then fully to satisfie his questions. For then so greatly I desired to heare him sighe, (to confirme me in my doubtfull hope) that in lieu of such a happines I woulde not haue cared to haue passed any greefe whatsoeuer. And in the end I coulde not wish for more apparant signes of loue in him, then at that present I behelde: for what with his toong he coulde not, with his eies he manifestly declared vnto me the amorous and secret passions of his hart. And being in these points, the two Shepherdesses, that were with me, rose vp to milke their kine, whom I praied to take the paines to milke mine likewise, for that I felt my selfe not well at ease. And needlesse it was for me to entreate them much, and for Arsileus to haue any fitter occasion to de∣clare vnto me his greefe, wherein I knowe not if he was deceiued, by imagining the occasion why I would be without companie, but am assured, that he was not a little glad to helpe himselfe by the opportunitie thereof. The Shepherdesses were busie about milking their kine, which suffered themselues to be deceiued with hu∣mane industry by tying their gentle cauelings to their feete. That Arsileus now (new∣ly suprised in loue) had yeelded himselfe so much to Cupids bonds, that nothing but speedie death could giue him libertie, I perceiued apparantly, in that fower or fiue times he began to speake vnto me, and euery time in vaine: for the feare he had of my displeasure came euer betweene him and his speech, and therefore I began to talke to him of another matter, not farre from his intent, bicause he might not di∣gresse much from it, inducing him thereby to tell me what it was that so often he went about to speake and could not vtter, saying. Doth this countrey like thee well, Arsileus? For the entertainment and conuersation of that, where thou hast lately spent thy time, is, I knowe, farre different from ours, which therefore cannot so well content thee as that. As of my selfe (quoth he) I haue not so much power, so hath not my vnderstanding (faire Shepherdesse) so much libertie, to answer this demand. And changing this manner of talke (to shewe him the way with occasion) I said vn∣to him againe: I haue heard say, that in those parts are many faire Shepherdesses, that paragonned to vs, they so farre excell vs, that we must seeme but meane in thy sight that are heere. I might be thought too simple (saide Arsileus) if I woulde con∣fesse this, for though there are as faire there (as you haue heard) yet heere are they which with mine owne eies I daily see, that so farre surmount them, as the sun doth the chiefest stars in brightnes. This is the greatest glose in the world (said I againe) and yet for all this I am not sorrie, that our countrey-women are so farre in your good opinion and liking, because I am one of them my selfe. Which onely reason (saide he) if there were no other, were sufficient enough to prooue what I haue said. So that by word and worde he came to tell me that, which I desired to heare, though I would not then make him knowe so much, but rather intreated him to stop vp the passage of his wordes. But fearing least this might haue bene an occasion to qualifie his loue (as often times it falleth out, that disgraces and disfauours in the beginning are the meanes to make any leaue of their true commenced loue) I be∣gan to tune againe my iarring answere, saying thus vnto him. And if thy loue be
