name, which if any had but founded in her eares, they could not haue angred her worse. Now when this Coniurer vnderstood (I know not how) of the appointed meeting betweene me and Belisa, to talke together in the night from the toppe of a Mulberie tree in her fathers Orchard; Alfeus, full of diuels, commanded two spirits to take the shape of my father Arsenius, & mine vpon them, & that he, that took vp∣on him my shape, shuld go to the appointed place; & the other, that took my fathers, should come thither, & shoot at him in the tree with a crosbow arrowe, thinking he was not his Son, but another, & then to come presently vnto him, & knowing him to be his Son, should kill himselfe, for greefe that he had staine his owne Son, to the end that the Shepherdesse Belisa should kill her-selfe, seeing my selfe & my Father dead, or at least do that, which afterwards she did. This villany did the traitor Alfeus work, for despight of that great loue, which he knew Belisa did beare me; and for the con∣tempt, which she had of his vnwoorthy affection. When this was in maner afore∣saide done, and Belisa thought that my Father and I were both staine, like a careles and desperate woman, she forsooke her Fathers house, and is gone where none can yet tel where she is, or any tydings of her. This did the Shepherdesse Armida tel me, and I do verily beleeue it, according to that which succeeded after. When Felisme∣na had heard what the Shepherd had tolde Amarillis, she wondred not a little, ima∣gining with her-selfe, that all that he tolde, did seeme to be true, and by the signes that she sawe in him, knewe that he was the same Arsileus, Belisas seruant, whom she thought to be dead, and therefore saide to her-selfe. It is not reason, that Fortune should giue her any content, that would denie it a Shepherd, that doth so well de∣serue it, and that stands so much in neede thereof. I will not at the least, depart from this place, without giuing him such ioy, as he will receiue at the newes of his belo∣ued Shepherdesse. Whereupon comming to the dore of the coate, she saide to Amarillis. Will it please thee (faire Shepherdesse) to giue the forlorne woman of Fortune, that hath lost her way, and the hope to finde it out againe, leaue to passe away the heate of the day in this place with thee? The Shepherdesse seeing on a sudden such exceeding beautie, and so comely a feature, was so amazed, that she was vnable to answer one worde againe: but Arsileus saide vnto her. There wants no other thing (faire Shepherdesse) for the performing of thy request, but the place, which is not so good as thou deseruest: but if thou art wont to bee serued with such homely lodging, Come in, and wherein wee may doe thee any ser∣uice, our good wils shall excuse the wants of our abilitie. These wordes Arsi∣leus (saide Felismena againe) seeme well to come out of thy mouth, but the ioye, that I will leaue with thee in requitall of them, I wish may befall to me of that, which I haue so long desired. And saying thus, she went into the Coate, and the Shepherd and Shepherdesse rose vppe, offering her their places, and all three sitting downe againe, Arsileus saide to Felismena. Haue you euer seene mee before (faire Shepherdesse,) or hath any body tolde you of my name? I knowe more of thee Arsileus (saide Felismena) and of thy estate, then thou thinkest, although thou art in a Shepherdes weede, far different from that I sawe thee in, when thou wert a student in the famous Academie of Salamanca: If there be any thing heere to eate, I pray thee giue it me, for I will tell thee afterwardes a strange and true thing, which thou hast desired long since to knowe. This will I doe with a good will (saide Arsileus) though I can doe no kinde of seruice, due ynough to the great apparance of thy vertues and deserts. Whereupon Arsileus and Amarillis, taking of their seuerallscrips, gaue Felismena such victuals, as they had. And after she had
