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was due to parents? And what power had those parents (saide Syrenus) that obedience, those times, those fauourable or sinistrous successes of Fortune, to ouer∣rule so true a Loue, as before my departure thou didst shew me? Ah Diana, I ne∣uer thought there was any thing in the worlde, that could dissolue so great a faith as that, and how much more Dianas, considering that well thou mightest haue mar∣ried, and not forgotten him, who loued thee so entyrely. But thinking of the matter vnappassionately, it was now better for me, since thou wert resolued to marrie, and being married, to forget me quite. For what reason saide Diana? For what, saide Syrenus? Bicause there is no woorse thing in the worlde, then for a Shepherd to loue a Shepherdesse that is married, nor that makes him, (that beares her true loue and affection) sooner to loose his wits and sences: the reason whereof (as wee all know) is, that the principall passion which doth torment a louer (after the desire of his Mistres) is cruell iealousie: For what dost thou then thinke, that a poore vnfortu∣nate Louer that loues wel is able to do, what griefe (thinkest thou) he passeth, when he knowes, that his Shepherdesse is in the armes of her new married husband, and he bewailing and weeping his disgrace and ill Fortune in the streete. And this is not all the torment, when such a mischeefe and death remaines yet thereof, that he must not complaine of it at all, but must suffer (silly man) and holde his peace, bi∣cause by complaining he shall be thought no lesse then a foole or a madde man (a thing as contrarie to his rest as may be:) For if the iealousies were of some other Shepherd, that serued her, by complayning of the fauours she doth him, and by hearing her excuses, the Louer might better passe away his greefe; but this is such a kinde of torment, that in an instant one shall loose it, if he haue no stay in his desire. Leaue of this talke (said Diana) for thou hast no neede to loue, nor to be beloued. In respect of not hauing it to loue (saide Syrenus) I am glad in not hauing it also to be beloued. Strange is thy libertie (said Diana) but stranger was thy forgetfulnes (said Syrenus) if thou dost remember well the words thou spakest to mee at my departure. But let vs (as thou saiest) leaue of to speake of things which are past, & let vs thanke time and Lady Felicia for those that are present. And thou Syluanus, take thy Pipe, and I will tune my Rebecke to it, and let vs sing some verses togither, although so free a hart as mine cannot sing of anie thing, that may giue content to thine, that is of another qualitie. I will giue thee a good remedie for this (saide Syluanus: ) For let vs imagine that we are both in the same case, as this Shepherdesse made vs liue, when we filled these hils and dales with our amorous complaints.Syluanus deuise liked them all well, but Seluagia was a little displeased thereat, who for that time, (bicause she would not seeme to be iealous, where she was ascertained of so great loue) helde her peace: And the Shepherds began to sing in manner following.
Syrenus.
IF teares cannot with tendernesse relent thee,
How can my song thy cruelty assured,
Since nought of mine could euer yet content thee:
What hart was euer that so much endured?
That to deride thou neuer canst suffice thee,
Agreefe that hath the worlds wonder procured.
Ah blinde conceite, let loue nor time disguise thee,
And such a thought of change that neuer told me
But to thy good and my content a duise thee.
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