Montemayor's Diana

Page 184

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What hath deseru’d this faire and stately Oke,
Why that should not be Sure, which I doe see?
What hainous fault could this fine Meade prouoke,
Why things in deede should seeme but Dreames to mee?
Vnto mine Eies what is befallen of late,
Why that they should not see my Nymphes estate?
This Bagpipe of my Nymph I will deuise,
To hang it heere (faire Oke) to honour thee:
A woorthy Trophee, though before mine Eies
Lying disgrac’t for teares they cannot see,
If it be Sure, or if I dreame in vaine,
(Spoil’d in this Meade with parching sunne and raine)
That gracious Nymph that gaue my hart the stroke
In this greene Meade, I sawe (a heauenly prize)
And (if I dreame not) leaning to that Oke;
Nay, Sure, I did be hold her with mine Eies:
O that she had but seene me then againe,
Or that I had but seene or dream’d in vaine.

Thus as he made an end of his song, gathering vp the freshest and sweetest flowers he could finde, he adorned Dianas Bagpipe so finely with them, that one would haue thought, it had beene that Horne, that Hercules tooke from Achelous transformed into a Bull, the which, the Naiades decked with plentie of coloured Apples and flowers, whereupon it tooke the name Cornu copia or the Horne of plen∣tie. When he had done thus, he hanged the Bagpipe vpon the Oke, whereunto she had leaned, and hard by it (as afterwards they perceiued) wrote these verses.

I am Dianes, th’ Arabian bird in beautie and in grace,
Let no man therefore once preseume to take me from this place.

Syrenus, who of purpose (it seemed) would haue had Diana shew some loue to Firmius, stept before his company, and pulling Firmius by the lappe of his coate behinde (for his backe was towards him) said vnto him. I will shew thee Shepherde a brauer and fresher bowe then this, and more woorthy of this Trophee, and which will perhaps giue thee more content then this Bagpipe, and such a thing that shall be no lesse welcome to it, then to thy selfe. Firmius desired him to shew it him. Then Syrenus pointing to Diana with his finger, said vnto him. Dost thou see it there? Fir∣mius was so altered with the sudden sight of faire Diana, that though he would faine haue dissembled it, neither the colour in his face, nor the faintnes of his legs would giue him leaue to do it, for that was gone, and these were not able to support the bo∣die without great paine. But in the end borrowing a little strength of his weaknes, in the best sort he could, he incouraged his hart to hide that, which was so openly manifest, and answered Syrenus. There should be other Trophees of higher honour placed in this bowe. By this time came the two Shepherdesses, and Syluanus and saluted him: but he was in such a case, seeing Diana so neere him, that he gaue no great heed to their salutations. Whereupon Diana turning to Seluagia, said. This Shepherd should (belike) talke to none, but to himselfe alone: for in company (me

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