Proper it is for Mars to wound with hand:
Mars woundes with hand, if angrie once he be:
But now behold, the matter thus doth stand,
That Cupid wounds with hand as well as he.
And my good hap, or ill would haue it thus,
That first of all my wofull hart should feele
This new Alarme, wherewith he feareth vs.
So with a hand, to which all harts may kneele,
My hart he hath transfixt to make me knowe,
His valour, strength, his wounding shaft, and bowe.
Thou hast sufficiently prooued it (saide Syluanus) and truely I cannot but woon∣der at the new manner of loues proceeding, and how in the ende (like one, whom this affaire toucheth) thou hast highly pondred and weighed it in thy minde. But so may God giue thee a good hand in thy loue of the hand, as thou wouldest tell vs the manner he had to bring thee to the sweete bondage of so faire a hande. From that (said Faustus) which hitherto you haue heard, you may deduce (as it were) al the rest; but passing that sleightly ouer, which I haue already tolde you, I will briefely de∣clare the rest. Liuing (as I now haue told you) not meanely contented in my iudge∣ment to see my selfe free (if he may be termed free, that is farre from loue) on a night I went to visite a friend of mine, a certaine Shepherd, who was by chance wounded with a knife, with whom passing away the time, in lamenting his mishap (diuining perhaps mine owne) a Shepherdesse, disguised in her attyre, and hauing all her face couered ouer with a fine white vaile, came sweetely in, so comely and gracefull a personage, as by her discreete words I iudged her to be of excellent and high con∣ceite. Of both which things, as immediately, so not meanely was I enamoured, for of any other part I could not, bicause her iniurious vaile did hide the rest. But after a little while (to my great harme) she pulled out a hand (a hand I say she pulled out) for I know not how such a perfect brightnes could be couered. At the sight where∣of mine eies were so blinded, to giue light to my vnderstanding, that though she did afterwards discouer her faire face, yet I was not able to behold it. She went from thence sooner then I would, and I (sooner then my neede required) exiled my selfe from my wonted ioy: for she woulde not giue me so much as leaue to accompanie her with this miserable bodie, whose happie soule went away in her heauenly com∣pany; whereby you may iudge what kinde of man I then was, that remained in such anxieties, and what I am also now, who neuer since could finde out the meanes to see her any more. And (Shepherd) this is the summe of that thou didst desire to knowe of mee. If thou tellest vs nothing else (saide Syluanus) it then seemes that as this Shepherdesse doth neither know thee, so thy passion is not manifest vn∣to her. It is true, said Faustus, she knowes me not, but hath had some certaine notice of me by the meanes of another faire Shepherdesse, with whom she keepes daily company: who to do me a pleasure (for surely she euer wished my content) made me write vnto her, vpon assured promise to giue my letter into her own hands, & to procure me an answer againe: though from the last she hath not yet discharged hir∣selfe. True it is, she tels me (or faines at the least to put me in some hope and com∣fort) that she hath promised me an answer. I pray thee pleasure vs so much (saide Syluanus) to shew vs thy letter, for being written by thine owne hands, there can be
