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in her hande, and her golden quiuer hanging downe by her side, enuironed
rounde about with a troupe of Nymphes fairer then Titan in his cheefest glo∣
rie. The Shepherdes and the Shepherdesses were so amazed at the sight of these things, that they knew not what to say, bicause the riches of the house were so infi∣
nite, the figures so liuely, the workmanship of the Quadrant so excellent, and the proportion of the Ladies that were retracted there, with so great art, that they
thought it impossible to imagine a more perfect and absolute, or a more sumptuous building in the whole world then that was. On the one side of the Quadrant stood fower Laurell trees of gold, so brauely enameled with greene leaues, that in gardens there were none more fresh or liuely, and neere to them a little fountaine made all
of beaten siluer, in the middes whereof was likewise a Nymph of beaten gold, which at her faire breastes thorow nybles of Rubies spouted out water cleerer then Cri∣
stall: and neere to this fountaine did Orpheus the famous musition sit, enchaunted
with the age that he was in, when his Euridice was requested of importunate Ari∣
steus: He had on a cote of cloth of siluer, interseamed and imbrodered with flowers
of seede pearle, his sleeues broad about the shoulders, and falling very narrow to
his elbowes, from whence his armes came out naked. He had on a paire of hose of cloth of siluer to the knee, and made after the olde fashion of Thrace, wrought full
of little golden Harpes and Citherens, his golden bush of haire, which hung downe
curled and long, was tied about with a faire Laurell wreath. But when he perceiued
the Nymphes comming towardes him, he began most sweetely to touch a fine
Harpe, which he had in his handes, with the diuine melodie whereof the strangers
were so much rauished, that they forgot all that they had seene, in respect of this
new delight. Felismena sate her downe vpon a faire lowe bed in the Quadrant, which
for the most was couered all ouer with purple damaske, finely wrought and fringed
with golde, and the Nymphes and Shepherdesses about her, the Shepherdes lea∣
ning vpon the siluer fountaine. In this sort therefore they were harkening to worthy
Orpheus, as if he had bin singing amongst the Cyconians when Cyparisus was turned
into a Cypres tree, and Atis into a Pine tree. Enamoured Orpheus then began to
sing so sweetely to the tune of his Harpe, that with the heauenly musicke thereof he
suspended their amazed senses. And turning his sweete face to Felismena, he began
to sing these verses following.

Orpheus his song.

HArke Felismena to the sweetest song
Of Orpheus, whose loue hath bene so high,
Suspend thy greefe (Seluagia) somewhat long,
Whilst now I sing, that once for loue did die:
Forget (Belisa) now thy woefull wrong,
And to my voice sweete Nymphes your eares apply:
That lost his eies, to beauties blaze then turning,
And Shepherdes, cease a while your amorous mourning.

I will not speake (for God forbid the same)
Of that most heauie processe of mine ils,
Nor when I so did sing, that I did tame
Wilde beastes and birdes, and mooued trees and hils: