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He had no sooner made an end of the complaints, which he declamed against Fortune, when walking towards the fountaine (from the which he was not twentie paces) on the sudden they saw him fling away his staffe, and with a lustie kinde of agilitie (contrary to his aged limmes) laie hand on his Faulchion, which from vn∣der a side garment that he wore, he tooke out to smite a certaine Shepherd that laie a sleepe in that side of the meadow. When they that were thus beholding him, per∣ceiued with what furie he ranne vpon the silly Shepherd (whom hitherto they had not seene) and with his naked Faulchion in his hande, they would all haue runne to helpe him, but that sage Felicia with signes which she made vnto them, willed them to sit still, telling them the matter should not need it. But the old man was now lif∣ting vp his Faulchion to smite him on the head, when two beggerly and foule rag∣ged Shepherdesses which were at hand, rising from the ground, tooke hold on him, the one with a sorrowfull voice saying vnto him. O my good Father. But the old man vnwinding himself from them stept back, making as though he would smite hir that went about to hinder him. Wherupon she, that had first spoken, perceiuing that he knew her not, spake to him againe, saying. O my deer Father Parisiles (for this was his name.) The angry & afflicted old man amazed at the tender voice he now knew, and like the marble stone benummed in all his sences, let his Faulchion presently fall out of his hands, whom then the Shepherdesse (calling him by the same name as before) most louingly embraced, as he was falling downe to the ground. Who comming to himselfe againe, and with the teares of milde loue supplying the inter∣rupted voice of his brest, threwe his aged armes vpon her, and that face of hers which with lothsome mudde and durt was so much defiled, sweetely beganne to kisse. Felicia turning to her companie, that (being nowe ridde from the greefe of their late passed silence) was laughing with a scornfull delight at the present sight, to see him kisse that foule ill fauoured face, said. Maruell not my sonnes and daugh∣ters, to see you reuerend old man kisse those deformed cheekes, for fatherly loue extendeth to more then that, so that if she seemes foule in your eies, he thinkes her faire, and no lesse doth the Shepherd that lieth there asleepe. Like will to like, saide Felismena. It is so (saide Felicia) but bicause so great an iniurie may not be offered

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