The sixth Booke of Diana of George
of Montemayor.
AFter that Arsileus was gone, Felismena staied still with the Shep∣herdesse Amarillis, that was with him, demaunding of one an other the course of their liues, a common thing to them, that finde themselues in like places. And as Felismena was telling the Shepherdesse the cause of her comming thither, a iolly Shepherd came to the Coate, though very sad by his counte∣nance and gate. When Amarillis sawe him, she rose vp in great haste to be gone, but Felismena taking hold by her garment, and suspecting what the cause of her sudden departure might be, said vnto her. It were not reason Shepher∣desse, that I should receiue this discourtesie at thy hands, who desires so much to serue thee. But as she striued to be gone from thence, the Shepherd with many teares said vnto her. My desire is (Amarillis) hauing respect to that, which thou ma∣kest me suffer, not to see thee sorie for this vnfortunate Shepherd, but to consider what belongs to thy wisedome and beautie, and that there is nothing in the worlde worse beseeming a Shepherdesse of thy braue qualities, then to intreate one so cru∣elly, that loues thee so entirely. Beholde these wearied eies (Amarillis) that haue shed so many teares, and then thou shalt see what reason thine haue to shew them∣selues so angrie against this miserable man. Alas, that thou fliest away from me, not seeing the reason thou hast to abide my presence. Stay Amarillis, and harken to my complaints, and to my iust excuses, and if thou wilt not answere me at all, yet I will be content, so that thou staiest still. What can it hinder thee to heare him, whom it hath so deerely cost to see thee? And looking vpon Felismena, with many teares he besought her, not to let her goe, who with sweete and gentle wordes intreated the Shepherdesse not to vse him with so small pitie, whom he shewed to loue more then himselfe, or that she would (at the lest) harken vnto him, since she could not hurt hir selfe much by doing so litle. But Amarillis said: Intreat me not (faire Shepherdesse) to giue eare to him, who beleeues his thoughts, more then my words. For behold, this Shepherd that stands in this fained sort before thee, is one of the most disloyall men, that euer liued, & one of them that most of al troubles our simple louing Shep∣herdesses with his false deceits & dissimulatiōs. Then said Filemon to Felismena. My onely request and desire is, faire Shepherdesse, that thou wouldst be iudge in the cause betweene Amarillis and me, wherein if I am found culpable, or the iust prouo∣ker of that anger, and ill opinion that she hath wrongfully conceiued against me, that then I may loose my life; and if she be, that I may haue no other thing for satis∣faction, but her confession, how much she hath iniured, and owes me. To leese thy life (said Amarillis) I am sure thou wilt not, bicause thou wilt not wish thy selfe so much harme, nor me so much good, as for my sake to put thy life in aduenture. But I am content, that this faire Shepherdesse be iudge (if it please her) betweene vs, to consider of our reasons, and to declare which of vs both is more worthie of blame. Agreed (said Felismena) and let vs sit downe at the foote of this greene hedge neere to the flourishing meadow before our eies, for I will see what reason you haue to complaine of one another. After they were all three set downe vpon the greene grasse, Filemon began thus to say. I trust faire Shepherdesse, if thou hast at any time beene touched with the force of Loue, that thou shalt plainly perceiue what small
