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affection in me readie to do thee all the seruice it may. Ah Duarda(saide Armia to her) how discreete art thou, and how mightest thou not win the onely praise of wisedome, if thou wert not cruell? Is there any woman in the worlde like thee heerein, who of purpose art offring occasions of impertinent speech, and to busie thy head with other matters, bicause thou hast no list to harken to the wofull Shep∣herd that by dolefull song is breathing out his sorrowes and mishaps. Felismenavnderstanding what that Shepherd was by Armias wordes, praied them to be still and to giue eare vnto him, who to the tune of his Rebecke did in his owne toong sing this song following.
SIghes, since you lighten not my hart,
Why go you not, why stay you still?
For in the end hope doth impart
Aremedie vnto mine ill.
Yet hope to helpe me neuer stood,
Where reason worketh all in vaine:
Nor euer promis’d so much good,
As crueltie doth giue me paine.
But loue and trust giue me an art,
And qualitie of such a skill,
That neither hope reuiues my hart,
Nor crueltie the same doth kill.
Mine eies you neede not then complaine,
With which her faire ones I haue seene,
And what neede you to feare againe,
Since viewed by her you haue beene?
And therefore change shall haue no part,
Nor entrance in my constant will,
Though crueltie doth kill my hart,
Or whether hope remaineth still.
The Shepherds musicke pleased Felismena better then the Shepherdesses meat, for she thought the song was made to complaine more of his owne griefe, then to lament an others. And as he made an ende, she said. Shepherd, it seemes thou hast truely learned by my ils to complaine of thine owne. Vnfortunate woman, that can neither heare, nor see any thing, which sets not before me the small reason I haue, to desire life. But yet God grant I may so long enioy it, vntil mine eies may see the cause of their burning teares. Thinkest thou faire Shepherdesse (said Armia to her) that these words deserue not to be heard, and that the hart, from whence they came forth, to be more esteemed then this Shepherdesse regards them? Talke not saide Duarda of his words, talke of his works; speake not of his dittie, but of his deeds, for by them his intent and meaning is to be iudged. If thou dost enamour thy selfe of songs, and delightest in Sonets compacted of industrie of fine and flattering words; Thinke not, that I do so: for as they are things wherein I take least pleasure; so by them I lesse perswade me of the loue he beares me. Felismena then fauouring Duardas reason, said. Behold Armia, how many ils might be auoided, and great mischiefes not ef∣fected, if we would not hearken to smooth & filed speeches, & lightly credit words framed by free harts: for, by nothing else they shew their properties more, then by a cunning and false tale, vttered by an eloquent & fine toong; that when we thinke it most true, there is nothing more false. Vnhappie me, that could not in time helpe my selfe with this counsell. But by this time was the Porugall Shepherd come where the Shepherdesses were, who in his owne language saide to Duarda. If the teares of these eies, and the sighes of this my hart are not sufficient (Shepherdesse) to mollifie that hardnes, wherewith thou dost so ill intreate me, I require nothing else, but that my company may not be troublesome vnto thee in these fields, and that the sorrowfull verses (which my griefe makes me sing, like to the dying swanne neere to this riuer) may be no occasion of thy miscontent and trouble. Passe away (faire
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